Coats Of Arms: Bearing The Family Heritage

By: Jazmin Begbie

For centuries families and nations have used coats of arms as ways to describe themselves and what they stand for. Today, many people like to look back on their coats of arms and use them as part of family history or to learn more about their heritage. When interpreting the symbols of heraldry, colors, animals, and symbols all have mean. Here are some of the more common elements in many coats of arms.

Colors: The colors used in coats of arms, whether in background or in motifs, symbolize one or the other virtue. For example, gold stands for generosity, white and silver for peace and sincerity, blue for truth and loyalty and green for hope and joy. Likewise, there are many other colors and their meanings. Then there are colors that are representative of valor and military. For example red is for military strength, maroon for patient victorious battle, purple for royalty and justice and oranges represent high ambition.

Coats of arms quite frequently depict animals in them. Most of the times it is lion, especially in the royal and national crests. A lion standing on hind legs depicts resolute valor. If the lion is heraldic understand that is shows bravery, might and valor.

Next to the lion it is the eagle that is often portrayed on coats of arms. This was the insignia of the great Roman Empire, which now represents the United States. The Eagle stands for nobility, strength, and bravery. Its outspread wings indicate protection. Two-headed eagles indicate a joining of two forces.

The boar represents bravery and the bull symbolizes valor. The cat indicates freedom and alertness, whereas the rooster stands for patient perseverance and dauntless courage. The dolphin signifies speed, compassion, hard work, and love. The dragon is known as a chivalrous defender, and a fish means an honest, large hearted mind full of virtue. The ram shows authority; and the serpent indicates wisdom. Even the unicorn is used to represent extreme courage and virtue.

Besides animals, nature finds its way in coats of arms in the form of plants. All of these plants represent one or the other virtue. Shamrock stands for perpetuity and harvest of hope is depicted by sheaf of wheat. Rose indicates hope, joy, grace and beauty and is the most commonly used plant. Laurel leaves are used to signify victory and lily for purity.

The oak tree is a symbol of antiquity, strength, continuous growth and fertility. The leaves and nuts of the oak tree also indicate different things. The acorn represents strength and antiquity.

Besides colors, plants and animals, coats of arms also include weapons and armor. Hands or arms clad in arm indicate leadership. The helmet represents strength, invincibility and prudence. The axe signifies military duty and the arrow is a symbol of preparedness for war. A hammer stands for honor and the dagger indicates justice. The shackle bolt is a symbol of victory, the spear and the pike both represent an honorable warrior or valiant knight.

Article Source: http://www.retirementlivingarticledirectory.com

Jazmin Begbie is the chief writer for, and editor of Any Coats, it's one of the webs most up to date Coats sites, their free newsletter is well worth signing up for too. If you want to read more Coats articles go to: www.anycoats.com/articles
This and other unique content coats articles are available with free reprint rights.

Please Rate this Article

Not yet Rated