What is a Coat of Arms Anyway?
Coat of Arms Meaning: CLICK TO ENLARGE
Family crests and coats of arms - does your family have one? Genes Reunited reveals the meanings behind the signs of heraldry. What do they represent? What’s the difference between a coat of arms and family crest? And what does a lion on a red background represent?
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield, surcoat (loose outer coat or gown) or tabard (tunic or cape garment). Medieval knights used coats of arms to identify the wearer. Heralds, or announcers, would introduce knights at competitions and spectators could distinguish each knight by the design adorning his shield, helmet and armor. A knight's battle gear was so prestigious and spoke to all of his achievements, so the coat of arms evolved into a status symbol that provided commentary on one's family history, property and profession or occupation.
The coat of arms generally refers to the cape, shield, crest and helmet, while the family crest technically only refers to the small image that lies on the helm (top of the helmet). The family crest is a component of a coat of arms, which can be used as a simplified symbol when the full coat of arms is too detailed.
British heraldry rules only allowed a firstborn son to receive his father's crest upon his death. By default, the crest would go to the firstborn grandson of a daughter if the man had no sons. In a number of heraldry traditions, a couple blended their respective family crests when they married to form a hybrid version (note the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's combined Coat of Arms on the right).
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield, surcoat (loose outer coat or gown) or tabard (tunic or cape garment). Medieval knights used coats of arms to identify the wearer. Heralds, or announcers, would introduce knights at competitions and spectators could distinguish each knight by the design adorning his shield, helmet and armor. A knight's battle gear was so prestigious and spoke to all of his achievements, so the coat of arms evolved into a status symbol that provided commentary on one's family history, property and profession or occupation.
The coat of arms generally refers to the cape, shield, crest and helmet, while the family crest technically only refers to the small image that lies on the helm (top of the helmet). The family crest is a component of a coat of arms, which can be used as a simplified symbol when the full coat of arms is too detailed.
British heraldry rules only allowed a firstborn son to receive his father's crest upon his death. By default, the crest would go to the firstborn grandson of a daughter if the man had no sons. In a number of heraldry traditions, a couple blended their respective family crests when they married to form a hybrid version (note the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's combined Coat of Arms on the right).
VIDEO: Coat of Arms explained
Colors and symbol meanings
- Gold (or): generosity and elevation of the mind
- Silver or white (argent): peace and sincerity
- Red: warrior or martyr; military strength and magnanimity
- Blue: truth and loyalty
- Green: hope, joy, and loyalty in love
- Black: constancy or grief
- Purple: royal majesty, sovereignty, and justice
- Orange: worthy ambition
- Maroon: patient in battle and yet victorious
Flowers and fruit
Flowers usually represent hope and joy while fruit signifies felicity and peace. There are some more specific meanings for certain flora.
- Acacia branch or leaves: eternal and affectionate remembrance
- Apple: liberality, felicity, and peace
- Bay leaves: poet or victor's laurel
- Berries: liberality, felicity, and peace
- Cypress: death and eternal life thereafter
- Grapes: liberality, felicity, and peace; also associated with wine-making
- Laurel leaves: peace and/or triumph
- Oak tree, leaves or bush: great age and strength
- Olive branch or leaves: peace and concordance
- Rose: mark of the seventh son (a red rose symbolizes grace and beauty while a white rose means love and faith)
Animals
Animals were frequently used as a main charge in coats of arms. They were shown in certain traditional postures (usually in positions of combat). Usually, the animals chosen were fierce and ferocious looking or they represented positive traits such as wisdom, resourcefulness and loyalty.
- Bear: strength, cunning, ferocity in the protection of one's kindred
- Boar/boar’s head: bravery; fights to the death/hospitality
- Dolphin: swiftness, diligence, salvation, charity, and love
- Dove: loving constancy and peace; the Holy Spirit; with an olive branch in its bill, it signifies a harbinger of good tidings
- Eagle: person of noble nature, strength, bravery, and alertness; or one who is high-spirited, ingenious, quick-witted, and judicious. If wings are displayed, it signifies protection. An eagle with two heads symbolizes conjoining forces
- Elephant: great strength, wit, longevity, happiness, royalty, good luck and ambition
- Fish: a true, generous mind; virtuous for himself, not because of his heritage; also, unity with Christ, spiritual nourishment
- Fox: one who will use all that he/she may possess of wisdom and wit in his/her own defense
- Hawk or falcon: one who does not rest until they’ve achieved their objective
- Horse: readiness for all employments for king and country
- Lamb: gentleness and patience under suffering. A lamb carrying a staff or banner with a cross is a paschal lamb which represents faith, innocence, bravery, gentleness, purity, and a resolute spirit
- Leopard: valiant and hardy warrior who enterprises hazardous things by force and courage
- Lion: dauntless courage
- Panther: fierce but tender and loving to children and will defend her children with her life
- Stag/stag’s antlers: one who will not fight unless provoked; peace and harmony; strength and fortitude
- Swallow: one who is prompt and ready in doing business; also, bringer of good news
- Swan: poetic harmony and learning or lover thereof; light, love, grace, sincerity, perfection
- Tortoise: invulnerability to attack
- Tiger: fierceness and valor; resentment; dangerous if aroused
Mythological creatures
Some mythological creatures were also used on coats of arms and crests with specific significance in heraldry.
- Centaur: eminence in the field of battle
- Dragon/wyvern (dragon with only two legs): valiant defender of treasure; valor and protection
- Griffin (head, wings, and talons of an eagle with the body of a lion): valor and death-defying bravery; vigilance
- Harpy (virgin's face, neck and breast with the body of a lion): ferocity under provocation
- Hydra (dragon with seven heads): conquest of a very powerful enemy
- Mermaid: eloquence
- Pegasus: poetic genius and inspiration; messenger of God
- Phoenix: symbol of resurrection
- Sphinx: omniscience and secrecy
- Unicorn: extreme courage; virtue and strength
Objects
- Anchor: hope; religious steadfastness
- Bells: power to disperse evil spirits. A hawk's bells denote one who was not afraid of signaling his approach in peace or war
- Chains: reward for acceptable and weighty service. With crowns and collars, this suggests the bearer bore the chain of obligation or obliged others because of services done
- Fleur-de-lis: purity; light; floral badge of France; represents sixth son as mark of difference
- Hand/red hand: pledge of faith, sincerity, and justice; two right hands conjoined represent union and alliance/mark of a baronet
- Harp: well-composed person of tempered judgment; contemplation; mystical bridge between heaven and earth
- Letter (i.e., a, b, c): may represent great battles or tournaments beginning with that letter
- Plume of feathers: sign of willing obedience and serenity of mind
- Scallop shell: traveler to far places or victorious naval commander
- Sphere: geographical or scientific reference
- Sword/dagger/dart: justice and military honor
- Torch: life; zealousness; engaging in signal service; truth and intelligence
Celestial beings and crosses
Crosses on crests are usually symbolic of some Christian experience or sentiment. Figures such as angels and deities represent dignity, glory and honor.
- Angel or cherub: dignity, glory, and honor; missionary; bearer of joyful news
- Cross crosslet (crossed at each end): signifies the fourfold mystery of the cross
- Cross: faith; service in the Crusades
- Cross (Celtic): unity of heaven and earth
- Cross fitchée (cross pointed at base): a combination of cross and sword; unshakeable faith
- Cross flory (cross flowered at each end): one who has conquered
- Cross pattée or cross formée (cross which has arms narrow at the centre): military honor
- Cross maltese (cross with eight points): blessings; badge of Knights Hospitaller
- Cross moline: the mutual converse of human society (said to represent a millstone)
- Cross raguly: difficulties encountered
- Seraphim (angel with three pairs of wings): dignity, glory, and honor; missionary; bearer of joyful news
You can trace your family history by researching your family tree on Genes Reunited. Perhaps you’ll find out if anyone in your family acquired a family crest or coats of arms. Now you’re aware of some of the meanings behind the colors and symbols, you might be able to determine some of your ancestors' traits and gain a sense of your family’s heraldry.
