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Symbols & Meanings

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Symbols & Meanings
Symbols & Meanings for Coat of Arms

TINCTURES
The colors used in heraldry are called tinctures.  They are divided into metals, colors, and furs.
The rules for tincture created was that no metal should be placed on another metal, and no color
on another color.  (this made it easily visible during battle as the tints could be seen easily)

METALS -  The two metals of heraldry are gold (or) and silver (argent).  Gold can be represented by
yellow sometimes and silver by white.   

COLORS -  There were traditional colors that were mainly used in coat of arms.   They are
RED (gules), BLUE (azure), GREEN (vert), PURPLE (purpure), and BLACK (sable).   Additional
colors are sometimes used but are considered untraditional such as ORANGE (tawny or tenne)
and DARK RED OR MAROON (sanquine or murrey).

Colors can also have special meaning in a coat of arms.   ***NOTE****Meanings vary from
one source to another and do not always depict the same meaning or do all sources agree.  
These are the most common meanings.



FURS -  These were used to decorate the robes and headgear of royalty and peers.
They may be used on the shield, as part of the decoration , by anyone.  These are
special patterns on the shield, (not fur).  (see below the furs as they were called)



 Heraldic Lines & ordinaries
Shields of more than one color are divided by Heraldic Lines.  There were principal designs as
shown below to help determine what is used.   They did not have to be straight lines and there are
a variety available. (shown below)   Charges are the symbols and figures used to decorate the shield.  
These are classified as ordinaries, sub-ordinaries, Flora and Fauna, celestial objects, man-made
objects and human forms.   Flora and Fauna --- plants and animals.

Those charges considers as ORDINARIES are:  the chief, fess, pale, cross, saltire, chevron, bend,
and bend sinister.  (all of these shown below).   Extended versions of these are called sub-ordinaries.

Review the shields below to see the Heraldic Lines and Ordinaries used.



The same lines shown above are used in different ORDINARIES shown below.   Remember ordinaries
are placement or shape of design such as:  the chief (as shown above at the top of the shield), fess (middle),
pale (vertical down), cross, saltire, chevron, bend (diagonal left down to right), and
bend sinister (diagonal left up to right).

ORDINARIES & SUB-ORDINARIES BELOW
Basically, you can combine ordinaries below including all shapes and change them to look like
the heraldic lines above.  For example you can use the FESS with the wavy instead of the embattled
as shown below.   



 Marks of Cadency
Marks of Cadency -- Order of Birthright.



 COMMON Charges  & crests * meanings
The symbols and figures used to decorate shields are called charges.    Whether used as a charge
or as a crest (which is placed above the helm), these are some of the most common meanings.

ACORN
ANCHOR
ANNULET
ANTELOPE
ANTLERS
ARM/ARMOUR
ARM
Antiquity
& Strength
Hope
Fidelity
Mythical Creature
Strength
& Fortitude
A person
w/ qualities
of leadership
(Naked)
An
industrious
person


LION
DEER
BEAR
EAGLE
DOVE
PEACOCK
Courage
& Nobility
Peace &
Harmony
Strength
& Intelligence
Might
& Victory
Peace,
the Holy Spirit
(olive branch in bill; of good tidings)
Beauty,
power,
&
knowledge


UNICORN
DRAGON
GRIFFIN
HORN
HORSESHOE
CASTLE/TOWER
Courage
Virtue
& Strength
Valour
&
Protection
Valour
&  Death Defying Bravery
Vigilance
Strength
& Fortitude
Good
Luck
Safety
&
grandeur

There are many many more................................We will be adding these in as we can.  

 If you would like to know the meaning of something else that you do not see above,
 please send us an email to:   info@familytreepaintings.com ?




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Updated  September  2008