Coat of Arms Symbols and Meanings: A Heraldry Guide
Coat of arms symbols do not have one universal dictionary of meanings. A lion, oak leaf, anchor, or color can refer to a bearer's name, land, work, history, aspiration, or a reason recorded in a grant. Heraldry identifies a design through its complete composition and formal description, while meaning comes from evidence and context. Use this guide to distinguish documented heraldic use from bearer-specific explanation and modern visual association before choosing symbols for a new design.
Documented heraldic use
What a blazon, grant, register entry, manuscript, or reliable historical record can actually establish.
Bearer-specific meaning
Why a particular person, family, community, or institution selected the charge for its own arms.
Modern association
What a present-day viewer might read into a symbol—useful for design, but not proof of historical intent.
Do Coat of Arms Symbols Have Fixed Meanings?
Lists of “heraldry symbols meanings” often equate a lion with courage, blue with loyalty, or an oak with strength. These associations can describe a modern mood, but they do not prove historical intent. A lion might instead refer to a place-name, office, alliance, or bearer's story; its posture, tincture, and companions matter too.
In one Canadian Heraldic Authority record, maple leaves, a lion, and a raven-bear receive explanations tied to that recipient's ancestry, identity, and place. The record supports those meanings for that achievement, not a universal code.
The Parts of a Coat of Arms
The shield is the central element of a coat of arms. The Canadian Heraldic Authority's guide to an achievement distinguishes it from the optional elements arranged around it. This matters when searching for symbols for heraldry: an animal on the shield is a charge, while a different animal beside the shield may be a supporter. A figure above the helmet is the crest.
Shield
The central surface carrying the field, divisions, ordinaries, and charges.
Field
The shield’s background, made from a tincture, division, or pattern.
Charge
Any geometric, living, or inanimate figure placed on the field.
Helmet
A helm above the shield, shaped according to context and practice.
Mantling
Stylized protective cloth flowing from the helmet and framing the shield.
Crest
The device above the helmet, usually placed on a wreath.
Motto
A bearer’s word or phrase, commonly displayed on a scroll.
Supporters
Figures beside the shield whose use can be restricted by authority.
Compartment
The ground beneath supporters, sometimes referring to a particular place.
In precise usage, a crest is only the device above the helmet. A modern Family Crest Maker may use familiar search language while preserving that distinction. Supporters and compartments should not be added merely for grandeur; conventions differ by jurisdiction.
Coat of Arms Colors and Tinctures
Coat of arms colors are called tinctures. The principal metals are Or and Argent; common colors include Gules, Azure, Vert, Sable, and Purpure. Heraldic authorities describe a practical contrast convention: place color on metal or metal on color so a design remains legible. Natural coloring, described as “proper,” and patterned furs introduce other possibilities. The Canadian Heraldic Authority and the Court of the Lord Lyon explain these foundations.
Tinctures are categories, not exact swatches. The College of Arms notes that they have no fixed Pantone values. Choose recognizable shades and strong contrast before adding bearer-specific associations.
| Symbol or charge | Historical use | Possible association | Modern design advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Or — gold or yellow | One of the two heraldic metals; yellow can represent gold. | Sunlight, harvest, excellence, or a golden material. | Prefer flat yellow when metallic texture weakens clarity. |
| Argent — silver or white | The second metal; white commonly represents silver. | Snow, water, clarity, peace, or a silver craft. | Outline pale charges when they meet a pale background. |
| Gules — red | A principal heraldic color without one mandatory modern shade. | Fire, brick, berries, energy, or a local color. | Keep red visually distinct from black at small sizes. |
| Azure — blue | A principal color used for fields, divisions, and charges. | Sea, river, sky, distance, or a regional blue. | Use a shade that contrasts clearly with Or or Argent. |
| Vert — green | A principal color often used for fields and natural charges. | Woodland, farming, renewal, or a remembered landscape. | Avoid muted olive when it makes the design indistinct. |
| Sable — black | A principal color used for fields, charges, and divisions. | Night, iron, ink, geology, or a family trade. | Let large black forms dominate; remove fragile black details. |
| Purpure — purple | A recognized color, historically less common than several others. | Ceremony, textiles, flowers, or a modern family preference. | Pair it with a light metal and test screen reproduction. |
| Ermine and vair — furs | Traditional patterned tinctures using repeated contrasting units. | Winter, textiles, pattern, or heraldic tradition. | Simplify the repeat if it becomes noise at final size. |
Ordinaries and Geometric Heraldic Charges
Heraldic charges include both living figures and geometric forms. Broad, simple shapes traditionally called ordinaries organize the field before any animal or object is added. Their names describe structure rather than a fixed moral message. A bend is diagonal whether it represents a river, a road, a sash, or no story beyond inherited composition.
| Symbol or charge | Historical use | Possible association | Modern design advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chief | A broad band across the shield’s upper part. | A roofline, horizon, authority, or northern place. | Keep it broad enough to read as structure. |
| Pale | A vertical band down the shield’s center. | A path, mast, trunk, support, or continuity. | Use the central axis without crowding adjacent charges. |
| Fess | A horizontal band through the shield’s middle. | A bridge, boundary, shared ground, or river. | Limit small charges above and below its strong center. |
| Bend | A diagonal band from heraldic dexter to sinister. | A route, slope, sash, movement, or ascent. | Make the diagonal broad and visually decisive. |
| Chevron | An inverted V rising toward the shield’s center. | A roof, pass, shelter, joint, or meeting point. | Leave open space around the converging point. |
| Cross | Intersecting vertical and horizontal bands with many variations. | Faith, crossroads, four regions, or connection. | Identify the exact form and its documented context. |
| Saltire | A diagonal X-shaped ordinary with named variations. | Crossing routes, union, framework, or regional history. | Keep secondary charges out of its narrow quarters. |
| Bordure | A border following the shield’s outer edge. | Boundary, difference, protection, or an enclosing place. | Make it thick enough to survive reduction. |
An ordinary should remain part of the shield's architecture. Begin a new design with one large geometry; add another only when the story requires it.
Coat of Arms Animals and Their Attitudes
Coat of arms animals are identified by species and attitude, the conventional term for posture. A lion rampant and a lion passant are different charges. Direction uses the bearer's viewpoint: dexter is the viewer's left, sinister the viewer's right. Claws, tongues, horns, collars, and held objects may also be described.
Choose specifically: “a stag recalls the forest beside our grandparents' workshop” gives more direction than “our family likes strength.”
| Symbol or charge | Historical use | Possible association | Modern design advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lion | A frequent beast shown in many tinctures and attitudes. | Authority, guardianship, a name, place, or story. | Choose the attitude; simplify mane, paws, and tail. |
| Eagle | Often displayed, but also shown rising or volant. | Height, vision, speed, landscape, or institutional history. | Group feathers into a few strong shapes. |
| Stag or deer | Shown whole, as a head, antlers, or an attire. | Woodland, migration, hunting, alertness, or family place. | Give antlers wide gaps and fewer points. |
| Bear | Shown walking, standing, seated, or as a head. | Protection, wilderness, species, place-name, or personal story. | Distinguish its muzzle, shoulders, and paws from a lion. |
| Wolf | Used as a full beast or head with specified attitude. | Watchfulness, movement, landscape, name, or fictional lineage. | Favor long muzzle, ears, and lean silhouette. |
| Fox | A recognizable charge used for names and local stories. | Adaptability, rural place, anecdote, or visual pun. | Use a low body, full tail, and pointed muzzle. |
| Horse | Shown standing, running, rearing, harnessed, or winged. | Travel, service, farming, cavalry, or equestrian connection. | Make action readable through neck, legs, and mane. |
| Boar | Shown whole or as a tusked, bristled head. | Hunting, woodland, resolve, hospitality, or local reference. | Emphasize tusks, snout, and back instead of fine hair. |
| Birds | Species and attitude identify many distinct bird charges. | Place, occupation, migration, memory, water, or flight. | Preserve the chosen species’ beak, neck, wings, and tail. |
| Fish and sea creatures | Fish use aquatic attitudes; shells and marine creatures also appear. | Fishing, rivers, trade, voyage, coast, or local species. | Use a bold profile and only essential species clues. |
A short guide to animal attitudes
Attitude vocabulary is a drawing instruction, not a personality test. The terms below are a starting point; birds, fish, and four-legged beasts do not all use the same full set of words.
- Rampant
- Upright in profile, usually with forepaws raised.
- Passant
- Walking in profile with one forepaw raised.
- Statant
- Standing with all feet on the ground.
- Couchant
- Lying down with the head raised.
- Gardant
- Turning the head toward the viewer while holding another attitude.
- Displayed
- A bird facing the viewer with wings and legs spread.
- Volant
- A bird shown in flight.
- Naiant
- A fish or aquatic creature swimming horizontally.
Plants and Symbols from Nature
Plants can preserve a connection to land, name, work, or memory. A branch from a family home carries stronger context than a random leaf chosen because a chart labels it “hope.” Simplify the form without erasing its identity.
| Symbol or charge | Historical use | Possible association | Modern design advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oak and acorns | Trees, branches, leaves, and acorns appear separately or together. | Woodland, rebuilding, stewardship, surname, or remembered tree. | Choose one oak form instead of combining every part. |
| Rose | A stylized frontal flower differentiated by tincture and details. | Place, affiliation, garden, remembrance, or family event. | Use clear petals and a bold center. |
| Fleur-de-lis | A long-established floral charge with strong historical associations. | Regional connection, ceremony, heritage, or continuity. | Create distinction through context and surrounding composition. |
| Thistle | Shown as a plant, flower head, or leaf. | Landscape, garden, boundary, resilience, or Scottish connection. | Do not imply national or clan ties without evidence. |
| Wheat or grain | Ears and sheaves identify agriculture and production. | Farming, nourishment, community, trade, or occupation. | Use a few bold ears instead of fine stalks. |
| Mountain or rock | Landforms appear as mounts, peaks, rocks, or compartments. | Hometown, journey, geology, boundary, or landmark. | Prefer one distinctive profile to many shaded ridges. |
| Sun, star, or moon | Celestial charges specify rays, points, phases, and details. | Direction, navigation, astronomy, a date, or local sky. | Give one celestial element clear hierarchy. |
| Waves and water | Wavy divisions and aquatic charges represent water compactly. | Coast, river, migration, fishing, voyage, or memory. | Use broad bands rather than realistic foam. |
Culturally important plants need care. Use a documented link rather than implying ancestry or status from a thistle, rose, or fleur-de-lis alone. Invented realms should define their own associations.
Weapons, Tools, Buildings, and Maritime Symbols
Objects can be more personal than a stock animal. A plane blade may recall carpentry, a bridge a town, and a ship a migration. An anchor can refer to a port, service, fishing, a name, or another documented context.
| Symbol or charge | Historical use | Possible association | Modern design advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sword | Shown upright, crossed, broken, sheathed, or held. | Service, defense, justice, heirloom, or military history. | Specify orientation; simplify the hilt. |
| Spear or arrow | Shown singly, grouped, crossed, or with separate details. | Direction, hunting, travel, readiness, or occupation. | Keep shafts thick and points recognizable. |
| Axe | Blade, handle, position, and tool type distinguish axes. | Forestry, carpentry, defense, craft, or inherited tool. | Choose the relevant type, not a generic fantasy axe. |
| Hammer and anvil | Workshop implements identify trades and institutions. | Metalwork, repair, labor, industry, or family workshop. | Use a compact pair and very few sparks. |
| Book | Shown open or closed with specified marks or fittings. | Learning, teaching, faith, law, memory, or archive. | Use thick pages and little or no tiny text. |
| Compass or dividers | Navigation compasses and drawing dividers are distinct charges. | Navigation, surveying, architecture, exploration, or precise craft. | State which instrument is intended. |
| Tower or castle | Structures vary by doors, windows, turrets, and masonry. | Hometown, refuge, civic history, boundary, or landmark. | Match the silhouette to the specific place. |
| Bridge | Arches, materials, towers, and water can be specified. | Connection, engineering, trade route, town, or crossing. | Use a few bold arches without pictorial perspective. |
| Anchor | Shown alone, crossed, held, or combined with rope. | Port, naval service, fishing, return, or coastal life. | Keep stock, shank, arms, and flukes uncluttered. |
| Ship | Sails, masts, flags, hull, and direction can be described. | Migration, trade, shipbuilding, service, or documented journey. | Use a side silhouette and limit rigging. |
Specificity improves meaning and drawing. Identify the kind of axe, compass, or tower, then preserve one defining feature. A coat of arms should read as a composition, not a small painting.
How to Choose Symbols from a Family Story
Start with a place, craft, migration, shared responsibility, object, or event you can explain. A new decorative emblem can carry a real family story without claiming inherited historical arms.
- 01
Write the real story
Describe one scene or connection in ordinary language. Names, places, materials, tools, plants, and actions are stronger inputs than an abstract list of virtues.
- 02
Choose one main charge
Select the object that would remain recognizable without explanation. It should carry the design's identity rather than merely decorate the shield.
- 03
Add one supporting element
Use a second charge or field division to add place, motion, or relationship. If it repeats the same idea, remove it.
- 04
Set composition and tinctures
Choose an ordinary or simple arrangement, then apply a restrained metal-and-color palette with strong contrast at small sizes.
- 05
Record the intended meaning
Write a short design note explaining every choice. This becomes the context future viewers need and prevents later invented history.
Once the brief is clear, follow the composition and prompt process in How to Make a Family Crest. The guide helps turn a story into a shield, palette, and concise visual direction without pretending that a newly created emblem is a historical grant.
Frequently Asked Questions About Heraldic Symbols
Do coat of arms symbols have fixed meanings?
No universal dictionary assigns one fixed meaning to every heraldic symbol. Meaning may come from a grant, family history, institution, or bearer. Qualities such as courage or loyalty are possible modern associations, not automatic historical translations.
What is a heraldic charge?
A charge is any figure placed on a heraldic field, including geometric forms, animals, plants, buildings, and tools. Its tincture, position, number, and attitude form part of the design and its formal description.
What is the difference between a crest and a coat of arms?
A coat of arms is centered on the shield and may include several surrounding elements. The crest is the separate device above the helmet, usually on a wreath. Calling the whole achievement a crest is common but imprecise.
What do coat of arms colors mean?
Heraldic colors first identify tinctures and create contrast. Or and Argent are metals; Gules, Azure, Vert, Sable, and Purpure are colors. Connections to qualities or places depend on context and are not universal meanings.
What do animal attitudes mean in heraldry?
An attitude describes pose, not moral character. Terms such as rampant, passant, displayed, volant, and naiant tell an artist how a creature stands, moves, spreads its wings, or swims. Vocabulary differs by species.
Can the same animal mean different things on different arms?
Yes. A bear might refer to a place-name, family story, local species, quality, or visual pun. Its companions and colors can change that reading. A documented bearer explanation is stronger evidence than a generic meaning list.
How should I choose symbols for a modern family crest?
Begin with a real story, place, craft, or tradition. Choose one main charge, one supporting element, and a restrained palette, then test the design at a small size. Record why each element was chosen.
Can I use a symbol from someone else’s coat of arms?
Common subjects can appear in new designs, but an existing coat of arms is a complete identifying composition. Do not copy another bearer’s arrangement. Official or commercial use may require advice from the relevant heraldic authority or a qualified professional.
Sources and Further Reading
The descriptive claims in this guide use heraldic authorities and official register material. The “possible association” column is explicitly modern design guidance, not a transcription of historical law or a universal code.