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.
The most common heraldic symbols and their meanings
as suggested by some historians.
(Q THROUGH T)
For a list of symbols and their meanings, without illustrations, visit Meanings: All.
For a list of all symbols and their meanings with illustrations (page may take a while to load to your screen), visit Symbolism.
| Element | Illustration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Quatrefoil (Primrose) |  |
Brings good tidings |
| Rabbit (Conie) |   |
One who enjoys a peaceable and retired life |
| Rainbow |  |
Good times after bad |
| Ram |    |
Authority |
| Raspberries |  |
|
| Rat |  |
Unknown |
| Ratch-hound (small hound) |  |
Loyalty, courage, and vigilance |
| Raven |   |
Divine providence |
| Ray or Rayonnee |  |
Glory and spendour; fountain of life; intelligence and enlightenment |
| Rhinoceros |   |
Ferocious when aroused |
| Rhododendron |  |
Caution and wariness |
| Rock |  |
Safety and protection; refuge |
| Rose |       |
Mark of the seventh son; Hope and joy; see also meanings for specific colors of roses |
| Rose, Red |  |
Grace and beauty; Love and desire |
| Rose, White |  |
Love and faith; Charm and innnocence |
| Rose, Yellow |  |
Infidelity and jealousy |
| Rosemary |  |
Enduring love and remembrance; constancy, fidelity and loyalty |
| Roundles |  |
Gold or yellow: bezants or byzantine coins
(worthy of trust or treasure) White: plate (generosity) Green: pomme (apple) Purple: golpe (wounded) Blue: hurt or wortleberry Black: pellet, ogress, or gunstone (cannon ball) Red: torteau (communion wafer or manchet cake) Tawney: orange (tennis ball) |
| Rye |  |
|
| Sabre (See Sword) | Justice and/or military honour | |
| Saddle |    |
Preparedness for active service |
| Sage |  |
Wisdom, long life, esteem |
| Salamander |  |
Protection |
| Salmon (See Fish) |  |
|
| Saltire |  |
(St. Andrew's Cross) Resolution |
| Savage/Saracen |    |
Believed to be related to service in the Crusades |
| Scales |  |
Justice |
| Scallop Shell (See Escallop) | See "Escallop" | |
| Scroll (See Parchment or Diploma) | ||
| Sceptre |   |
The emblem of justice |
| Scythe or Sickle |   |
The hope of a fruitful harvest |
| Sea Horse/ Sea Dragon |    |
Power of the water |
| Seal/Sea lion |  |
Dauntless courage at sea |
| Seaweed |  |
Purity and leadership |
| Seraphim |  |
(Angel with three pairs of wings) Dignity, glory, and honour; missionary; bearer of joyful news |
| Serpent/Snake/Lizard |      |
Wisdom |
| Shacklebolt |  |
Victory; one who has taken prisoners or rescued prisoners of war |
| Shamrock |   |
Perpetuity; floral device of Ireland; also see Trefoil. |
| Shield |  |
When borne on the arms, represents the defender |
| Ship |         |
Ancient sea voyages |
| Ship, Dismasted |  |
Disaster at sea |
| Shofar |   |
Reminds us of the admonitions of the prophets and their calls to repentance |
| Shutle (Weaver's Shuttle) |  |
Reference to the bearer's profession; i.e., textiles |
| Skull |  |
Mortality |
| Snail |  |
Deliberation and perseverance |
| Snake (See Serpent) | Wisdom (see also Serpent) | |
| Snapdragon |  |
Graciousness and strength |
| Spear/Pike |    |
Honourable warrior; valiant knight |
| Spear-head (See Pheon) | Dexterity and nimble wit; readiness for battle | |
| Sphere |   |
Geographical or scientific reference |
| Sphinx |  |
Omniscience and secrecy |
| Spider |  |
Wisdom, labour, and prudence |
| Spur or Spur Rowel |   |
Preparedness for active service; pressing onward |
| Square Symbols |  |
Constancy |
| Squirrel |  |
Lover of the woods |
| Stag (Also Reindeer) |
   |
One who will not fight unless provoked; peace and harmony |
| Stag's Antlers |  |
Strength and fortitude |
| Star (estoile or mullet) |       |
Celestial goodness; noble person; Excellence |
| Steel | Readiness for zealous service | |
| Stirrup |  |
Preparedness for active service |
| Stool |  |
Hospitality |
| Stork |   |
Filial duty; close parental bond; If holding a rock, symbolizes vigilance |
| Sun |     |
Glory and splendour; fountain of life |
| Sunflower |  |
Homage and devotion |
| Swallow |  |
One who is prompt and ready in doing business; also bringer of good news |
| Swan |  |
Poetic harmony and learning, or lover thereof; light, love, grace, sincerity, perfection |
| Sword/Dagger/Dart Sabre/Cutlass/Scimitar |
|
Justice and military honour |
| Table |  |
Hospitality |
| Tabor (snare drum) |  |
Festivity and rejoicing; dangerous if aroused |
| Talbot (hunting dog) (See also Dog) |   |
Courage, vigilance, and loyalty |
| Tent |  |
Readiness for battle |
| Terrace |  |
Unknown; May be purely an artistic device |
| Thistle |  |
Defiance and surliness |
| Thorn Leaf |  |
Irritation; nuisance |
| Thyme |  |
Bravery, courage and strength |
Tiger |
      |
Fierceness and valour; resentment; dangerous if aroused |
| Tiger Lily |  |
Wealth and pride |
| Torch |      |
Life; zealousness; engaging in signal service; truth and intelligence |
| Tortoise |  |
Invulnerability to attack |
| Tower |     |
Safety and grandeur |
| Tree Trunk/Stump/Branch |   |
New life sprouting from the old |
| Tree |         |
Life and the mystical connection of the earth with heaven and the underworld |
| Tree of Life (Knowledge) |  |
|
| Trefoil or Shamrock (three-leaved grass) |
 |
Perpetuity |
| Tressure |  |
Preservation or protection (prominent in the arms of Scotland) |
| Tressure Flory Counterflory |  |
Signifies the close and longterm alliance between France and Scotland |
| Trestle |  |
Hospitality |
| Trident |   |
Maritime dominion |
| Trumpet |  |
Ready for war |
| Tulip |  |
Imagination and dreaminess; Fame and perfect love |
