Heraldry is the study, design,

regulation and use of armorial

bearings commonly known as
“coat of arms”.
Example: the cross and martlets
of Edward the Confessor.

The main element in a coat of arms is

a shield, and it is used for a corporate
identification. All this began in the
Middle Ages, following traditional
channels and it’s considered a personal
logo.
The parts of a coat of arms are:
-Motto -The Wreath
-Shield -Mantling
-Bucket Helmet -Charges
-Crest -Supporters

1. Gold (or): generosity and elevation of the mind

2. Silver or white (argent): peace and sincerity

3. Red: warrior or martyr; military strength and magnanimity

4. Blue: truth and loyalty

5. Green: hope, joy, and loyalty in love

6. Black: constancy or grief

7. Purple: royal majesty, sovereignty, and justice

8. Orange: worthy ambition

9. Maroon: patient in battle and yet victorious

10. Acacia branch or leaves: eternal and affectionate remembrance

11. Apple: liberality, felicity, and peace

12. Bay leaves: poet or victor's laurel

13. Berries: liberality, felicity, and peace

14. Cypress: death and eternal life thereafter

15. Grapes: liberality, felicity, and peace; also associated with wine-making

16. Laurel leaves: peace and/or triumph

17. Oak tree, leaves or bush: great age and strength

18. Olive branch or leaves: peace and concordance

19. Rose: mark of the seventh son (a red rose symbolises grace and beauty while a white rose means
love and faith)

20. Bear: strength, cunning, ferocity in the protection of one's kindred

21. Boar/boar’s head: bravery; fights to the death/hospitality

22. Dolphin: swiftness, diligence, salvation, charity, and love

23. Dove: loving constancy and peace; the Holy Spirit; with an olive branch in its bill, it signifies a
harbinger of good tidings

24. 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 symbolises conjoining forces

25. Elephant: great strength, wit, longevity, happiness, royalty, good luck and ambition

26. Fish: a true, generous mind; virtuous for himself, not because of his heritage; also unity with Christ,
spiritual nourishment

27. Fox: one who will use all that he/she may possess of wisdom and wit in his/her own defence

28. Hawk or falcon: one who does not rest until they’ve achieved their objective

29. Horse: readiness for all employments for king and country
30. 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

31. Leopard: valiant and hardy warrior who enterprises hazardous things by force and courage

32. Lion: dauntless courage

33. Panther: fierce but tender and loving to children and will defend her children with her life

34. Stag/stag’s antlers: one who will not fight unless provoked; peace and harmony; strength and
fortitude

35. Swallow: one who is prompt and ready in doing business; also bringer of good news

36. Swan: poetic harmony and learning or lover thereof; light, love, grace, sincerity, perfection

37. Tortoise: invulnerability to attack

38. Tiger: fierceness and valour; resentment; dangerous if aroused

39. Centaur: eminence in the field of battle

40. Dragon/wyvern (dragon with only two legs): valiant defender of treasure; valour and protection

41. Griffin (head, wings, and talons of an eagle with the body of a lion): valour and death-defying
bravery; vigilance

42. Harpy (virgin's face, neck and breast with the body of a lion): ferocity under provocation

43. Hydra (dragon with seven heads): conquest of a very powerful enemy

44. Mermaid: eloquence

45. Pegasus: poetic genius and inspiration; messenger of God

46. Phoenix: symbol of resurrection

47. Sphinx: omniscience and secrecy

48. Unicorn: extreme courage; virtue and strength

49. Crosses on crests are usually symbolic of some Christian experience or sentiment. Figures such as
angels and deities represent dignity, glory and honour.

50. Angel or cherub: dignity, glory, and honour; missionary; bearer of joyful news

51. Cross crosslet (crossed at each end): signifies the fourfold mystery of the cross

52. Cross: faith; service in the Crusades

53. Cross (Celtic): unity of heaven and earth

54. Cross fitchée (cross pointed at base): a combination of cross and sword; unshakeable faith

55. Cross flory (cross flowered at each end): one who has conquered
56. Cross pattée or cross formée (cross which has arms narrow at the centre): military honour

57. Cross maltese (cross with eight points): blessings; badge of Knights Hospitaller

58. Cross moline: the mutual converse of human society (said to represent a millstone)

59. Cross raguly: difficulties encountered

60. Seraphim (angel with three pairs of wings): dignity, glory, and honour; missionary; bearer of joyful
news

61. Anchor: hope; religious steadfastness

62. Bells: power to disperse evil spirits. A hawk's bells denotes one who was not afraid of signalling his
approach in peace or war

63. 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

64. Fleur-de-lis: purity; light; floral badge of France; represents sixth son as mark of difference

65. Hand/red hand: pledge of faith, sincerity, and justice; two right hands conjoined represent union
and alliance/mark of a baronet

66. Harp: well-composed person of tempered judgment; contemplation; mystical bridge between
heaven and earth

67. Letter (i.e., a, b, c): may represent great battles or tournaments beginning with that letter

68. Plume of feathers: sign of willing obedience and serenity of mind

69. Scallop shell: traveller to far places or victorious naval commander

70. Sphere: geographical or scientific reference

71. Sword/dagger/dart: justice and military honour

72. Torch: life; zealousness; engaging in signal service; truth and intelligence

73. Abyss: The honor point of the shield, the very center.

74. Acorn: The symbol of plenty, also used in coats of arms as a pun on the name (Canting arms)

75. Anchor: The emblem of hope, usually painted with a rope attached.

76. Annulet: A ring, the symbol of strength. The Roman symbol of Liberty.

77. Ant: Also known as the Emmet, patience and forethought.

78. Antelope: The symbol of peace and harmony, the heraldic antelope is unlike its cousin in the zoo

or safari park, featuring the body of a stag with the tail of the Unicorn and fearsome horns.

79. Bat: The representation of watchfulness.

80. Dragon: This fantastic heraldic monster symbolizes courage.

81. Sun: Often depicted with a face and termed “in its splendor” it is the emblem of glory.

82. Swan: The royal bird is the symbol of harmony.

83. Scythe: The emblem of husbandry, not death.

84. Salamander: Depicted in flames, an emblem of sacrifice.

85. Salmon: From ancient times in Ireland, the symbol of knowledge.

86. Savage: A wild man, usually painted with a club, or indeed a tree, over his shoulder. A common

symbol of strength and valor.

87. Scepter: A royal staff, emblematic of authority.

88. Laurel: Sometimes shown in a wreath, is the emblem of triumph.

89. Legs in armor: The emblem of the isle of man, seen also on the arms of macleod.

90. Leopard: emblematic of a valiant warrior.

91. Lily: the regular kind, is the symbol of purity.

92. Nail: a symbol of passion.

93. Naval-crown: denotes one with service in the navy, composed of masts and rigging.

94. Ox: an emblem of persistence.

95. Palmer staff: along with the palmer’s script, are symbols of those who fought in the crusades.

96. Parchment: depicted in a roll, an emblem of wisdom.

97. Peacock: a symbol of power and omniscience, used in ecclesiastical heraldry often.

98. Pear: used as a canting device as in the name perry, a symbol of plenty.

99. Pentagon: rarely found in heraldry, an emblem of health.

100. Pheon: a broad arrow head, symbolizes readiness to do battle.

101. Phoenix: Known to all as the symbol of resurrection.

102. Pillow: Emblematic of authority.

103. Plate: A piece of silver, said to denote involvement in the Crusades.