The Real Truth Behind Coats of Arms and Family Crests

Family unit crests and coats of artillery - 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 glaze of arms and family unit crest? And what does a panthera leo on a red background represent?

A coat of artillery is a unique heraldic pattern on a shield, surcoat (loose outer coat or gown) or tabard (tunic or greatcoat garment). Medieval knights used coats of arms to place the wearer. Heralds, or announcers, would introduce knights at competitions and spectators could distinguish each knight by the design adorning his shield, helmet and armour. A knight's battle gear was so prestigious and spoke to all of his achievements, then the coat of arms evolved into a status symbol that provided commentary on 1'south family history, holding and profession or occupation.

The coat of arms by and large refers to the, greatcoat, shield, crest and helmet, while the family crest technically merely refers to the pocket-size epitome that lies on the helm (peak of the helmet). The family crest is a component of a coat of artillery, 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 expiry. By default, the crest would go to the firstborn grandson of a girl if the human being 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 correct).

Colours and symbol meanings

Gold (or): generosity and elevation of the mind

Silver or white (silver): peace and sincerity

Red: warrior or martyr; armed forces strength and magnanimity

Blue: truth and loyalty

Green: promise, joy, and loyalty in love

Black: continuance or grief

Purple: royal majesty, sovereignty, and justice

Orangish: 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 than specific meanings for certain flora.

Acacia branch or leaves: eternal and appreciating remembrance

Apple tree: liberality, felicity, and peace

Bay leaves: poet or victor's laurel

Berries: liberality, felicity, and peace

Cypress: expiry and eternal life thereafter

Grapes: liberality, felicity, and peace; also associated with vino-making

Laurel leaves: peace and/or triumph

Oak tree, leaves or bush: smashing age and strength

Olive branch or leaves: peace and concordance

Rose: mark of the seventh son (a red rose symbolises grace and beauty while a white rose means dearest and religion)

Animals

Animals were frequently used as a principal charge in coats of arms. They were shown in certain traditional postures (normally 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'south kindred

Boar/boar'south head: bravery; fights to the death/hospitality

Dolphin: swiftness, diligence, salvation, clemency, and love

Dove: loving continuance and peace; the Holy Spirit; with an olive branch in its bill, information technology signifies a harbinger of skilful tidings

Eagle: person of noble nature, force, bravery, and alacrity; or one who is high-spirited, ingenious, quick-witted, and judicious. If wings are displayed, it signifies protection. An hawkeye with 2 heads symbolises conjoining forces

Elephant: keen strength, wit, longevity, happiness, royalty, good luck and appetite

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 defence

Hawk or falcon: one who does not rest until they've achieved their objective

Horse: readiness for all employments for male monarch 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: trigger-happy merely tender and loving to children and will defend her children with her life

Stag/stag'south antlers: one who will not fight unless provoked; peace and harmony; strength and fortitude

Swallow: one who is prompt and ready in doing business; besides bringer of skilful news

Swan: poetic harmony and learning or lover thereof; calorie-free, love, grace, sincerity, perfection

Tortoise: invulnerability to assault

Tiger: fierceness and valour; 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 boxing

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

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

Harpy (virgin's face, neck and breast with the torso of a panthera leo): ferocity nether 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 forcefulness

Celestial beings and crosses

Crosses on crests are usually symbolic of some Christian experience or sentiment. Figures such equally angels and deities stand for dignity, glory and honour.

Angel or cherub: nobility, celebrity, and honor; missionary; bearer of joyful news

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

Cross: organized religion; service in the Crusades

Cantankerous (Celtic): unity of heaven and earth

Cantankerous fitchée (cross pointed at base): a combination of cantankerous and sword; unshakeable faith

Cross flory (cross flowered at each end): one who has conquered

Cross pattée or cross formée (cross which has artillery narrow at the centre): military award

Cross maltese (cross with eight points): blessings; bluecoat of Knights Hospitaller

Cantankerous moline: the common antipodal of homo order (said to represent a millstone)

Cross raguly: difficulties encountered

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

Objects

Anchor: hope; religious steadfastness

Bells: ability to disperse evil spirits. A hawk'south bells denotes ane who was not agape of signalling his approach in peace or state of war

Chains: reward for adequate 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; low-cal; floral badge of French republic; represents 6th son as marking of difference

Paw/red hand: pledge of religion, sincerity, and justice; ii right hands conjoined represent union and alliance/marking of a baronet

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

Alphabetic character (i.due east., a, b, c): may correspond great battles or tournaments beginning with that letter

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

Scallop shell: traveller to far places or victorious naval commander

Sphere: geographical or scientific reference

Sword/dagger/sprint: justice and armed services honour

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

You can trace your family unit history past researching your family tree on Genes Reunited. Maybe you'll notice out if anyone in your family unit caused a family crest or coats of arms. Now you lot're aware of some of the meanings behind the colours and symbols, you might be able to determine some of your ancestors' traits and gain a sense of your family's heraldry.

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Source: https://www.genesreunited.co.uk/blog/genes-reunited-blog/archive/2013/11/7/what-the-symbols-on-coats-of-arms,-family-crests-and-seals-mean

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