SYMBOLISM OF HERALDIC COLORS, FURS, LINES & ORDINARIES or...

What does it mean if your coat of arms bears a red boar's head?

The following descriptions and meanings are gleaned from a variety of sources, some of which disagree on those meanings. The most commonly accepted meanings are given, but scholars vary in the their opinions concerning the reliability of any "commonly held" historic meanings for coats of arms and crests.

For examples of the different positions for heraldic animals, see our "Sample Lions In Heraldry" page.

Element	Illustration	Meaning
Acacia Branch or Leaves		Eternal and affectionate remembrance
Acanthus Leaves		Admiration of the arts
Acorn		Antiquity and strength.
Agricultural Tools (See also Scythe and Sickle)		Labouring in the earth and depending upon providence
Alisaunder (Similar to Laurel)		Peace and/or triumph.
Allerion (Mythical creature, similar to an eagle, but without beak or claws)		Strength of will and authority of mind
Anchor		Hope; religious steadfastness
Angelica		Inspiration
Angels	(See Sample Angels)	Dignity, glory, and honour; missionary; bearer of joyful news
Annulet (finger ring)		Fidelity
Ant		Great labour, wisdom, and providence in one's affairs
Antelope (Heraldic: A mythical animal with the body of a stag, the tail of a unicorn, a tusk at the tip of the nose, tufts down the back of the neck, chest, and thighs )		Harmony, political cunning, peace
Antlers		Strength and fortitude
Anvil		Honour; emblem of the smith's trade
Apple/ Apple Tree		Liberality, felicity, and peace; Perpetual concordance
Arm (or Hand) in Armour or Embowed		A person with qualities of leadership
Arm, Naked		An industrious person
Arrow or Dart		Readiness (for battle); if depicted with a cross, represents an affliction
Aspen Leaves		Determination; overcoming fears and doubts
Ass		Patience and humility
Axe (Also Halbert, Halberd, Hatchet)		Execution of military duty
Azalea		Temperance, passion
Baby's Breath		Purity of heart, innocence, breath of the Holy Spirit
Baguette (gem ring)		Fidelity
Banderole		See Banners
Banner	(See banderole)	Refer to special action in which bearer was captured, or a reward for valiant service
Bar, Barry, Barrulet		"One who sets the bar of conscience, religion, and honour against angry passions and evil temptations" acc. to Guillim
Barry Wavy		Troubles keep us in continuous exercise and reminders of providence (as waves in a storm at sea)
Bat		Awareness of the powers of darkness and chaos.
Baton		Token of authority
Battle Axe	(See Axe)	Execution of military duty
Bay Leaves		Poet or victor's laurel
Beacon (Also Lantern or Lighthouse)		One who is watchful, who gave the signal in time of danger
Bear		Strength, cunning, ferocity in the protection of one's kindred
Beaver		Industry and perseverance
Bee		Efficient industry
Beech		Tolerance, knowledge of history
Bell		Power to disperse evil spirits; a hawk's bells denotes one who was not afraid of signalling his approach in peace or war
Bell Tower (or Clock Tower)		Integrity
Bend/Bendy		Scarf or shield suspender of a knight commander; signifies defense or protection
Berries		Liberality, felicity, and peace
Bezant/Byzantine Coin (Also Besant; Gold Roundle)		Worthy of trust of treasure.
Billet/Billettee		Bricks or letters (correspondence); one who obtained credence, knowledge, and faith in his words and deeds; one who is secret in one's affairs.
Birch		New beginnings; vision quest
Bird of Paradise		Freedom
Birdbolt	(See Arrow)	Small arrow with blunt head.
Bishop's Mitre		Authority
Black-Eyed Susan		Encouragement
Blasted		Tree without leaves, withered
Bluebonnet		Grace, forgiveness, mercy
Boar		Bravery; fights to the death
Boar's Head		Hospitality
Bonacon	(See Bull)	Bull with horse's tail and short mane.
Bomb (Mortar Piece)		One who has dared the terror of such a weapon in battle
Bones (Crossed Thighbones)		Mortality
Book	(See Sample Books and Bibles)	If open, manifestation; if closed, counsel
Border		Difference between relatives bearing the same arms; also an augmentation of an honour
Bourdon (See Pilgrim's Staff or Palmer's Stave)		See pilgrim's or palmer's staff -- knob at upper end, point at bottom, hook near top
Bow		Readiness (for battle)
Bow and Arrow		War, power, ability to hit a target
Braced		Interlaced
Bracket		May be single or double; right angle-shaped support, as in a shelf support
Bridge		Governor or magistrate
Broom Plant		Humility; Ardor
Buck (See Stag)		One who will not fight unless provoked; peace and harmony
Buckle		Victorious fidelity in authority
Buglass (purple quatrefoil)		Hope and joy.
Bull/Buffalo		Valour, bravery, generosity
Bull's Head		Valour, bravery, generosity
Bull's Horns		Strength and fortitude
Butterfly		Psyche or Soul
Cactus Flower		Bravery and endurance
Cadences (Marks of Cadency)	See Marks of Cadency	Used to differentiate the heirs in a family.
Caduceus		Homeopathic medicine; medical profession; balance and the union of opposing forces
Calla Lily		Magnificent beauty; purity and chastity
Caltrap (or Caltrop) A weapon made up of two or more sharp nails or spines arranged in such a manner that one of them always points upward from a stable base.		Considered the landmines of antiquity, useful to slow down the advance of the enemy army and to force the enemy into certain paths and approaches, or to provide a passive defense as part of a defensive works system. They were said to be particularly effective against the soft feet of camels.
Camel		Docility, patience, and perseverance
Cannon & Cannon Balls		One who has dared the terror of such a weapon in battle
Candle/Lamp		Light, life, and spirituality
Canton		As in a flag borne at the top corner of the shield; reward from the sovereign for performance of eminent service
Cap of Maintenance		Granted to British peers and Scottish feudal barons (see "Chapeau")
Carnation		Admiration; fascination, impulsiveness, capriciousness, joy, devotion
Carpenter's Square		Conforming one's actions to the laws of right and equity
Castle (Tower/Chateau)	See Sample Castles	Safety; protection
Cat (Also Wildcat or Lynx)		Liberty, vigilance, forecast, and courage
Cattails (Bulrushes)		Peace and prosperity
Catherine Wheel		One prepared to undergo great trials for the Christian faith
Centaur		Eminence in the field of battle
Cerberus		Guardian; Past, present, and future
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
Chamomile		Energy; action
Chapeau (See also "cap of maintenance")		Granted to British peers and Scottish feudal barons
Chaplet (Floral)		Usually with green leaves and four roses: the crown of joy and admiration
Chequy		Constancy
Cherry Blossom		Wealth and prosperity; Education; Feminine principle and love; Transcience of life
Cherubs & Cherubim	(See Sample Angels)	Dignity, glory, and honour; missionary; bearer of joyful news
Chess Rook		Strategic thinking
Chevron		Protection; Builders or others who have accomplished some work of faithful service
Chief		Top one-third of the shield; signifies dominion and authority; often granted as a special reward for prudence and wisdom or successful command in war
Chimera (as described in the Iliad)		Impossible or difficult to believe
Chough (Cornish Crow)		Strategist in battle; watchful for friends
Chrysanthemum		Abundance, cheerfulness, optimism, truth, hope, rest, friendship
Church	(See Sample Churches)	Religion; faith; community
Cinquefoils		Hope and joy
Civic Wreath (of oak leaves and acorns)		One who saved a fellow citizen's life or shown patriotism in defense of one's native land
Clarion		Ready for war
Claw of a Bird		Note the preyer that has been preyed upon
Clock Tower	(See Bell Tower)	Integrity
Clouds		Mystery, obscured truth
Cock (male bird)		Courage and perseverance; hero; able man in politics
Cockatrice (small serpent)		Terror to all beholders
Column		Fortitude and constancy; with serpent coiled around it, wisdom with fortitude
Comet		Unknown
Community		Friendship, cooperation, community
Compass		Direction
Compony or Gobony		Constancy
Cornish Chough (crow, raven; See "chough")		Strategist in battle; watchful for friends; divine providence
Cornucopia (horn of plenty)		The bounty of nature's gifts
Cottice/Cotice (bendlet)		Scarf or shield suspender of a knight commander; signifies defense or protection
Coupeaux		(Hills - usually three) Unknown; may be purely an artistic device
Crane (Stork)		Close parental bond; Vigilance if holding a rock
Cramp
Crescent		One who has been honored by the sovereign; hope of greater glory (horns to the chief)
Cresset (See "Beacon")		One who is watchful, who gave the signal in time of danger
Crosier/shepherd's crook		The shepherd's watchfulness; Christian faith; pastoral authority; also Episcopal jurisdiction and authority
Cross	(See Examples of Crosses)	Faith; Christianity; Service in the Crusades
Cross (Celtic)		Unity of heaven and earth
Cross (Constantine's; Labarum)		Good omen; Christ; Christianity
Cross Crosslet		Signifies the fourfold mystery of the cross
Cross Crosslet Fitchee		A combination of cross and sword; unshakeable faith
Cross Flory (Patoncee)		(cross flowered at each end) One who has conquered
Cross Formee (Pattee)		Military honour
Cross (Maltese)		Blessings; badge of Knights Hospitalier
Cross Moline		The mutual converse of human society (said to represent a millstone)
Cross Raguly		Difficulties encountered
Cross Roucy		Faith
Crossed thighbones (See Bones)		Mortality
Crow (See also "Chough")		Strategist in battle; watchful for friends; divine providence
Crown or Coronet	(See Examples of Crowns)	Royal or seigniorial authority; prestige
Crown (Mural)	(See Examples of Crowns)	Defender of a fortress, token of civic honour; one who first mounted the breach in the walls of a fortress
Crown (Naval)	(See Examples of Crowns)	One who first boarded an enemy's ship; distinguished naval commander
Crown of thorns	(See Examples of Crowns)	Adversity
Cup (often covered)		Office of the king's butler
Cushions		Authority
Cygnet (young swan)		Where gorged with a crown around its neck, signifies dignity
Cypress		Death and eternal life thereafter