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(a) If your family immigrated to the United States prior to September 3, 1783, he can receive an "honorary" grant of arms from the British Crown. The "honorary" part just means the right of arms is not legally enforceable in British courts (though it's been more than 50 years since anyone has tried to enforce arms in a court, so this is really quite an incidental point), but is in every other way an actual grant from the Crown and comes with the elaborate letters patent (https://i.pinimg.com/736x/fc/79/f0/fc79f0783aa6435cc1242b6f05d45ca9--arundel-illuminated-manuscript.jpg), permanent recording in the archives of the College of Arms, and the right to matriculate them to his children, and their children, and so forth in perpetuity. They also handle all the design work (which also means you can't submit your own; they create the blazon as they feel is appropriate). This can be expensive, however. Generally about $6,000 for the grant, plus $150 for each generation removed from September 3, 1783, which covers their cost of confirming pedigree.

(b) If you want to assume arms, you can hire an heraldic artist. Here is a list: http://www.heraldic-arts.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11&Itemid=144.

(c) If that's too pricey and you have only minimal graphic/design abilities, I recommend purchasing a license to Armorial Gold (http://www.heraldryclipart.com/) for $78 and then downloading the free edition of Serif DrawPlus. With a bit of effort you can make a quite nice-looking emblazonment. You should also purchase a used copy of Boutelle's Heraldry (https://www.amazon.com/Heraldry-Charles-Boutell/dp/0723217084) on amazon.com which will teach you how to correctly blazon (textually describe) the arms. Or just describe them here and someone can try to blazon them for you.

(d) If you like, after doing 'b' or 'c', you could even have the arms registered with the South African Bureau of Heraldry (http://www.national.archives.gov.za/PERSONAL%20HERALDIC%20REPRESENTATIONNew.pdf) which gives you an elaborate looking registration certificate (http://www.heraldry.ca/arms/s/sidselrud_certificate.jpg) issued by an actual government (but, more importantly, results in the arms being archived in a permanent format; that is, the record of the arms will exist as long as the Republic of South Africa exists, unlike some of these internet registries which last only until the guy running it gets bored or dies or forgets to renew the domain name). This can cost around $500 (though, I believe, this includes a professional rendering of the arms by a South African herald). South Africa will only register heraldically correct arms so it would be good to get someone experienced to review them prior to submission. An important distinction between 'a' and 'd' is that this is a registration, and not a grant; that is, the Republic of South Africa is simply acknowledging that you have assumed arms and recognizing your legal right to use them, as opposed to 'awarding' (granting) them to you as in the case of the UK.

For details like crests I don't know there's anything talks about the entire tradition. It gets extremely complicated. For example, the rules u/Mustarotta gave for crests in Finland were almost certainly implemented in the Swedish period, which means they were probably identical to the rules adopted in Sweden, but probably weren't used in the rest of the German-influenced countries. If they were implemented under the Tzar they would be similar to Russia's rules. It's also possible the Tzars took the Swedish rules and adapted them to the Russian system to add Princes.

In general learning about non-English traditions is somewhat challenging unless you know the relevant language.

What I did was learn about my own tradition (British, so most of the material is English), and then hang out in places like this. I take note when the Germans do something kinda like the Scots. This was my first Scottish heraldry book, and I also got a small book/large pamphlet-type thing that went into English rules. I got both on a trip to the UK in 1998ish, so it would have been available for sale at castles and such places. It's probably on this list.

The book in question: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Simple-Heraldry-Cheerfully-Illustrated-Moncreiffe/dp/0702810096

The first text on heraldry I ever read, at roughly 8ish, which left me with an abiding fascination for the subject. I would recommend a copy for anyone with even a passing interest in the art.

It is meant to be a simplified water bottle, similar to the one shown here. Thanks for the shield regardless! I will make sure to use good use of it.

There is a book out explaining Canadian heraldry. I found it very concise and interesting for such a specific topic.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1092161910

You should read his book:
http://www.amazon.com/State-Third-Millennium-Prince-Hans-Adam/dp/3905881047

Anyway your sentiment is exactly the same as people in the 1700's who thought the American colonies could never be independent, or in the Interwar period where nobody thought the British Empire would fall. And time and time again, people like you get suckerpunched by the newest twist of events and are left flabbergasted at how your expectations could have possibly been shattered.

If your insinuation is that the West is heading towards some kind of Balkanized realm of liberal republics, well I suppose you're the real one living back in the 1700's. ;)

See https://www.amazon.com/Humorous-Guide-Heraldry-Jack-Carlson/dp/0976610809

https://www.amazon.com/Genealogy-Research-namesakes-Historical-Center/dp/B008BTXHX4