Symbolism of Heraldry
Colors and Metals
- Argent (white or silver): Peace and sincerity.
- Azure (blue): Loyalty and truth.
- Gules (red): Military fortitude and magnanimity.
- Murray (sanguine): Not hasty in battle, and yet a victor.
- Or (yellow or gold): Generosity.
- Purpure (purple): Royal majesty, sovereignty and justice.
- Sable (black): Constancy, sometimes grief.
- Tenne (tawney): Worthy ambition.
- Vert (green): Hope, joy and sometimes loyalty in love.
Heraldic Lines
- Dancette: Water.
- Embattled: Fire or the walls of a fortress or town.
- Engrailed and Invected: Earth or land.
- Indented: Fire.
- Nebulee or Nebuly: The sea or water.
- Ragulee or Raguly: Difficulties which have been encountered.
Ordinaries
- Bar: For "one who sets the bar of conscience, religion and honor against angry passions.
- Battune Sinister: Marks a royal descent that is barred by illegitimacy from succession to the throne.
- Bend: Defense or protection.
- Bordure or Border: Frequently adopted as a "difference" between relatives bearing the same arms.
- Canton: Bearing of honor. When borne charged, it often contains some special symbols granted by the sovereign in reward for the performance of eminent service.
- Chief: Dominion and authority.
- Cross - Chevron: Protection.
- Fess: Military belt or girdle of honor.
- Flasques: Given by a king for virtue and learning, and especially for service in embassage.
- Gyron: Unity.
- Orle or Tressure: Preservation or protection.
- Pale: Military strength and fortitude.
- Palet: Same as Pale.
- Pile: Same as Pale.
- Quarter: Bearing of honor. Similar to the Canton.
- Voiders: Given to gentlewomen who have deserved highly.
Common Charges
- Alerion: Signifies one who having been maimed and lamed in war, was thus prevented from fully asserting his power.
- Anchor: Succor in extremity and the Christian symbol of hope.
- Angels, Cherubs and Seraphs: Dignity, glory and honor.
- Annulet or Finger Ring: Fidelity.
- Ant: Symbolizes a man of great labor, wisdom and providence.
- Arm: A laborious and industrious person.
- Arrows and Arrowheads: Martial readiness.
- Axe: Execution of military duty.
- Beacons or Cressets: One who is watchful for the commonwealth or who gave the signal in time of danger.
- Bear: Ferocity in the protection of kindred.
- Beaver: Industry and perseverance.
- Bee: Well-governed industry.
- Billets: Their first bearer was a man who obtained credence, knowledge and faith in his words and deeds, and who was secret in his affairs.
- Blackamoor Head: Deeds of prowess in the Crusades.
- Boar: A fierce combatant when at bay, and ceases fighting only with its life, and therefore may be properly applied as the armorial bearing of a warrior.
- Bridge: Signifies a governor or magistrate.
- Buckles: Victorious fidelity in authority.
- Bull or Ox: Valor and magnanimity.
- Camel: Docility, patience and indefatigable perseverance.
- Cannon, Mortars, Cannon Balls, and Grenades: Well bestowed on those who have dared their terrors in sieges and battles.
- Cat or Cat-A-Mountain: Liberty, vigilance, forecast and courage.
- Catharine Wheel: Emblem of one who is prepared to undergo great trials for the Christian faith.
- Celestial Crown: Heavenly reward.
- Centuar: For those who have been eminent in the field.
- Chains: A reward for acceptable or weighty service.
- Chaplets and Wreaths: Granted for special service.
- Clarion or Rest: Same as Trumpet.
- Cock: Courage, always ready for battle, ready to fight to the death.
- Cockatrice: Terror to all beholders.
- Cornucopia: Bounty of Nature's gifts.
- Crescent: Signifies one who has been enlightened and honored by the gracious aspect of his sovereign.
- Crossed Thigh-bones: Mortality.
- Crosses: Symbolic of some Christian experience or sentiment.
- Crow: Signifies a settled habitation and a quiet life.
- Crown: Royal or seigniorial authority.
- Cubes, squares or dice: Constancy, wisdom, verity probity, and equity.
- Cushions: Marks of authority.
- Dolphin: Charity and a kind affection towards children.
- Double Eagle and Eagle: Signifies a man of action, ever more occupied in high and weighty affairs, and one of lofty spirit, ingenious, speedy in apprehension and judicious in matters of ambiguity.
- Dove: Loving constancy and peace.
- Dragon: A most valiant defender of treasure.
- Elephant: Courage and strength.
- Escarbuncle: Supremacy.
- Estoiles: Emblems of God's goodness or of some eminence in the first bearer above the ruder sort of men.
- Eye: Providence in Government.
- Falcon or Hawk: One eager or hot in the pursuit of an object much desired.
- Feathers (usually ostrich): Willing obedience and serenity.
- Fire: Zeal.
- Flaming Heart: Ardent affection.
- Foot: Same as leg.
- Fox: One who will use all that he may posses of sagacity, wit or wisdom in his own defense.
- Fret: Persuasion
- Fusil: Travel and labour.
- Fusil of Yarn: Negotiation.
- Gannet: To subsist by the wings of his virtue and merit, having little land to rest upon.
- Gauntlet: Signify a man armed for the performance of martial enterprise.
- Goat: Emblem of that martial man who wins a victory by the employment rather of policy than valor.
- Gold Roundles: One who has been found worthy of trust and treasure.
- Gold Spur: Dignity of knighthood.
- Goose and Duck: A man of many resources.
- Grasshopper: Wisdom and nobility.
- Griffin: Sets forth the property of a valorous soldier whose magnanimity is such that he will dare all dangers, and even death itself, rather than become captive.
- Hand: Faith, sincerity and justice.
- Hares and Rabbits: One who enjoys a peaceable and retired life.
- Harp: Contemplation.
- Harpy: Ferocity under provocation.
- Hawks or Falcons Bells: One who feared not to signal his approach in either peace or war.
- Heart: Charity, sincerity.
- Hedgehog: Provident provider.
- Heraldic Tiger: Same as Tiger.
- Horns and Antlers: Strength and Fortitude.
- Horse: Readiness for all employments for king and country.
- Horse Shoe: Good luck.
- House Snail: Deliberation and perseverance.
- Human Head: Honor.
- Hunting Horn: One who is fond of high pursuits.
- Hydra: The conquest of a very powerful enemy.
- Inkhorn: Same as pen.
- Lamb: Gentleness and patience under suffering.
- Leg: Strength, stability and expedition.
- Leopard: Valiant and hardy warrior.
- Lightning: The effecting of some weighty business with great clarity and force.
- Lion: Deathless courage.
- Lozenge: Honesty and constancy, also held to be a token of noble birth.
- Lozenge: Same as Cubes.
- Lyre: Same as harp.
- Mermaid: Eloquence.
- Millstones: The mutual converse of human society.
- Moon: Serene power over mundane actions.
- Mullet: Denotes some Divine quality bestowed from above.
- Owl: One who is vigilant and of acute wit.
- Panther: As a lion may be said to signify a brave man, so may a panther a beautiful woman, which, though fierce, is very tender and loving to her young, and will defend it with the hazard of her life.
- Pastoral Crosier: The emblem of a shepherd's watchfulness over his flock, and denotes episcopal jurisdiction and authority.
- Peacock: Beauty and pride of carriage.
- Pegasus: Exceeding activity and energy of mind whereby one may mount to honour.
- Pelican: Devoted and self-sacrificing charity.
- Pen: Emblematic of the liberal art of writing and of learned employments.
- Phoenix: Resurrection.
- Pillar or Column: Fortitude and constancy.
- Portcullis: Effectual protection in emergency.
- Purse: A frank and liberal steward of the blessings that God has bestowed .
- Ram: Authority.
- Raven: One who, having derived little from his ancestors, has through Providence become the architect of his own fortunes or one of an enduring constancy of nature.
- Red Hand: Usual mark for a baronet if borne on a small escutcheon.
- Rhinoceros: Great ferocity when aroused.
- Rocks: Safety, refuge and protection.
- Saddles, Stirrups and Spurs: Preparedness for active service.
- Scaling Ladder: One who was fearless in attacking.
- Sceptre: Justice.
- Scythe: Hope of a fruitful harvest of things hoped for.
- Shacklebolt: Victory in war.
- Shell, Escallop: One who has made long journeys or voyages to far countries, who had borne considerable naval command or who had gained great victories.
- Shells, Other: Protection of Providence.
- Shield: A defender.
- Ship, Lumphiad or Galley: All such symbols would point to some notable expedition by sea, by which, perhaps, the first bearers had become famous.
- Shoe: Same as Leg.
- Sickle: Same as Scythe.
- Silver Spur: An esquire.
- Skulls: Mortality.
- Snake: Wisdom.
- Spear Heads or Pheons: Dexterity and nimbleness of wit to penetrate and understand matters of highest consequence.
- Spear or Lance: Knightly service and devotion to honor.
- Sphinx: Omniscience and secrecy.
- Spider: Wisdom, labor and providence in all affairs.
- Squirrel: Sylvan retirement being the delight of its bearer.
- Stag, Hart, Buck, and Deer: Policy, Peace and Harmony.
- Stork: Filial duty, emblem of a grateful man.
- Sun: Glory and splendor.
- Swallow: One who is prompt and ready in the dispatch of his business.
- Swan: A lover of poetry and harmony.
- Sword: Indicates the bearer to a just and generous pursuit of honor and virtue in warlike deeds.
- Talbot, Mastiff and Greyhound: Courage, vigilancy and loyal fidelity.
- Tiger: Great fierceness and valor when enraged to combat; one whose resentment will be dangerous if aroused.
- Tortoise: Invulnerability to attack.
- Tower or Castle: Grandeur and solidity. Sometimes granted to one who has held one for his king, or who has captured one by force or stratagem.
- Trestles and stools: Hospitality.
- Trident: Maritime dominion.
- Trumpet: Ready for the fray.
- Trunk of a Tree: An object of veneration.
- Unicorn: Extreme courage.
- Water Bougets: Conferred on those who had brought water to an army or besieged place.
- Wheel: Fortune.
- White Roundles: Generosity.
- Wings: Celebrity, sometimes protection or coverture.
- Wolf: Denotes valiant captains that do in the end gain their attempts after long sieges and hard enterprises. One whom it is dangerous to assail or thwart.
Source: Symbolisms of Heraldry
Comments