COAT OF ARMS – Meanings and Symbols

Today, we have a guest post from the House of Names, experts in Heraldry, about the meanings and symbols of coats of arms. I hope you enjoy it!

The term Coat of arms originated from the ‘surcoat’ which is the piece of cloth worn over the armour of a warrior in order to shield it from the ray of sunlight. In the medieval period, the coat of arms was pretty popular amongst knights as it was used as a sign of identification. This phenomenon has been passed down to this century, and till date, families now pass down their symbols through generations by having a simple Family Crest.

Our ancestors always wanted to leave a legacy for their descendants, and the symbol of a family crest contains enough information about one’s family to serve as a legacy.

What is the coat of arms?

The coat of arms is simply a symbolic vest made of silk or rich material which is worn over the armour of a knight, distinguishing him on the battlefield. The Coat of arms was worn to recognise family achievements and preserve the heritage of a family.

What is the Family crest?

The family crest, on the other hand, is one important part of the coat. It is placed on a wreath above the shield and helmet on the coat of arms. It is a small part of the design and can be worn alone, especially when the coat of arms is too complex. Several families have used several symbols to crest their names. Some make use of animals and plants, while others use significant objects. You can find some images of some popular family coat of arms here

It is important to note the difference between the family crest and the coat of arms as both terms are often interchanged. In simple terms, the family crest is the design crested on the coat of arms. It contains the identification symbol of the family.

Parts of the coat of arms

Each embellishment on the coat of arms is significant. It is a combination of various parts, each serving a necessary purpose. Here is a brief breakdown of the various parts of the coat of arms;

1.      The helm: This is the helmet found below the crest. It is sometimes replaced with a crown.

2.      Shield: The centre of the design.

3.      Crest: The symbolic object.

4.      Wreath: A rope representing the connection between the crest and the helmet.

5.      Mantling: A piece of cloth protruding from the helmet.

6.      Motto: A slogan displayed on the ribbon.

Meaning of the symbols on the family crest

Each family crest is unique in its own way. Several colours and objects represent several things. It is just basically about identifying what is significant to you or your family.

Here are some symbols and what they stand for;

Animals

·       Eagle: Nobility, strength, bravery and alertness. Eagle with wings means protection. Eagle with two heads means conjoined forces.

·       Bear: Strength, cunning, ferocity.

·       Dove: Loving, Peace, The holy spirit.

·       Lion: Dauntless courage.

·       Horse: Availability for all employment kinds for kings and the country.

Colours

·       Black: Constancy or Grief.

·       White/silver: Peace and serenity.

·       Gold: Generosity.

·       Red: Warrior, strength.

·       Purple: Royal, majestic, sovereignty.

Objects:

·         Harp: Well composed persons, contemplation.

·         Torch: Life, zealous, truth and intelligence.

·         Chains: Reward for acceptable service. Chains with crowns mean the bearer bore the chain of obligation.

·         Bells: Power to disperse evil spirits.

Mythical creatures

·         Mermaid: Eloquence.

·         Dragon: Valiant defender of treasure.

·         Unicorn: Courage. Strength.

·         Griffin: Valour and bravery.

Flowers and fruits

·         Berries: Peace, felicity.

·         Grapes: Wine-making, Liberality, Peace.

·         Acacia leaves or branches: Eternal remembrance.

·         Olive leaves or branch: Concord, Peace.

·         Rose: Red rose means grace and beauty; a white rose means love and faith.

Finding your real family crest

The first step in finding your family crest is by tracing your family tree. From the tree, you might find someone in your family who acquired a family crest. Some families decide to adopt a family crest due to similar last names. However, this is not as specific as you want it to be since thousands could share the last name, and uniqueness is an important factor in the family crest.

However, if you are a descendant of Western Europe, then chances are pretty high for finding your family crest. This does not mean every family has one, especially since it was reserved for people of nobility. Here are some methods that can take you to your aim;

·         Discuss with your grandparent (Great grandparents if possible). They can leave you some important information.

·         Do some research.

·         Visit online genealogy resources.

·         Follow the last name process.

If you finally cannot find your family crest, how about you start the crest? By finding a significant trait in your family, you can trace the symbol representing such trait, put heads together with your family and create something meaningful and tangible. Imagine how precious this little step will be to your incoming generation. A legacy for posterity!