Feathers on the Helment Meaning on Family Crest
Family crests and coats of artillery - does your family have one? Genes Reunited reveals the meanings behind the signs of heraldry. What exercise they represent? What'south the divergence between a coat of arms and family crest? And what does a panthera leo on a blood-red background represent?
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic pattern on a shield, surcoat (loose outer coat or gown) or tabard (tunic or cape garment). Medieval knights used coats of arms to identify the wearer. Heralds, or announcers, would introduce knights at competitions and spectators could distinguish each knight by the blueprint adorning his shield, helmet and armour. A knight'due south battle gear was so prestigious and spoke to all of his achievements, so the coat of arms evolved into a condition symbol that provided commentary on one's family history, property and profession or occupation.
The coat of arms generally refers to the, greatcoat, shield, crest and helmet, while the family crest technically but refers to the small image that lies on the helm (top of the helmet). The family unit crest is a component of a coat of artillery, which tin be used as a simplified symbol when the full glaze of arms is too detailed.
British heraldry rules only allowed a firstborn son to receive his begetter'due south crest upon his death. Past default, the crest would become to the firstborn grandson of a girl if the man had no sons. In a number of heraldry traditions, a couple blended their respective family crests when they married to grade a hybrid version (note the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's combined Coat of Artillery on the right).
Colours and symbol meanings
Golden (or): generosity and elevation of the mind
Silvery or white (argent): peace and sincerity
Red: warrior or martyr; military forcefulness and magnanimity
Bluish: truth and loyalty
Green: promise, joy, and loyalty in love
Black: constancy or grief
Majestic: royal majesty, sovereignty, and justice
Orangish: worthy appetite
Maroon: patient in boxing and all the same victorious
Flowers and fruit
Flowers ordinarily correspond hope and joy while fruit signifies felicity and peace. There are some more specific meanings for certain flora.
Acacia branch or leaves: eternal and appreciating remembrance
Apple: liberality, felicity, and peace
Bay leaves: poet or victor's laurel
Berries: liberality, felicity, and peace
Cypress: death and eternal life thereafter
Grapes: liberality, felicity, and peace; as well associated with wine-making
Laurel leaves: peace and/or triumph
Oak tree, leaves or bush: keen historic period and forcefulness
Olive branch or leaves: peace and cyclopedia
Rose: mark of the seventh son (a carmine rose symbolises grace and beauty while a white rose means beloved and faith)
Animals
Animals were frequently used every bit a chief charge in coats of arms. They were shown in certain traditional postures (unremarkably in positions of gainsay). Normally the animals chosen were fierce and ferocious looking or they represented positive traits such every bit wisdom, resourcefulness and loyalty.
Bear: strength, cunning, ferocity in the protection of 1's kindred
Boar/boar's head: bravery; fights to the death/hospitality
Dolphin: swiftness, diligence, salvation, clemency, and beloved
Dove: loving continuance and peace; the Holy Spirit; with an olive branch in its neb, it signifies a harbinger of good tidings
Hawkeye: person of noble nature, strength, bravery, and alertness; or one who is high-spirited, ingenious, quick-witted, and judicious. If wings are displayed, it signifies protection. An hawkeye with two heads symbolises conjoining forces
Elephant: great 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
Fob: ane who will apply all that he/she may possess of wisdom and wit in his/her own defence force
Hawk or falcon: i who does non balance until they've achieved their objective
Equus caballus: readiness for all employments for king and country
Lamb: gentleness and patience under suffering. A lamb carrying a staff or banner with a cross is a paschal lamb which represents religion, innocence, bravery, gentleness, purity, and a resolute spirit
Leopard: valiant and hardy warrior who enterprises chancy things by forcefulness and backbone
Lion: dauntless courage
Panther: violent only tender and loving to children and will defend her children with her life
Stag/stag's antlers: i who volition not fight unless provoked; peace and harmony; strength and fortitude
Consume: one who is prompt and ready in doing business; also bringer of good news
Swan: poetic harmony and learning or lover thereof; lite, love, grace, sincerity, perfection
Tortoise: invulnerability to assail
Tiger: fierceness and valour; resentment; dangerous if aroused
Mythological creatures
Some mythological creatures were too used on coats of artillery and crests with specific significance in heraldry.
Centaur: eminence in the field of battle
Dragon/wyvern (dragon with only two legs): valiant defender of treasure; valour and protection
Griffin (head, wings, and talons of an hawkeye with the body of a panthera leo): valour and expiry-defying bravery; vigilance
Harpy (virgin'due south face, neck and chest with the body of a lion): ferocity under provocation
Hydra (dragon with vii 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: farthermost courage; virtue and strength
Angelic beings and crosses
Crosses on crests are usually symbolic of some Christian feel or sentiment. Figures such equally angels and deities represent dignity, celebrity and honour.
Angel or cherub: nobility, glory, and honour; missionary; bearer of blithesome news
Cantankerous crosslet (crossed at each end): signifies the fourfold mystery of the cross
Cross: faith; service in the Crusades
Cross (Celtic): unity of heaven and earth
Cross fitchée (cantankerous pointed at base): a combination of cross and sword; unshakeable faith
Cross flory (cross flowered at each finish): one who has conquered
Cantankerous pattée or cross formée (cantankerous which has arms narrow at the center): armed forces honour
Cross maltese (cross with eight points): blessings; bluecoat of Knights Hospitaller
Cross moline: the mutual converse of man social club (said to correspond a millstone)
Cross raguly: difficulties encountered
Seraphim (affections with three pairs of wings): dignity, glory, and honor; missionary; bearer of blithesome news
Objects
Anchor: hope; religious steadfastness
Bells: power to disperse evil spirits. A hawk's bells denotes ane who was not afraid of signalling his approach in peace or war
Chains: advantage for acceptable and weighty service. With crowns and collars, this suggests the bearer bore the concatenation of obligation or obliged others considering of services done
Fleur-de-lis: purity; light; floral badge of France; represents sixth son equally marking of difference
Hand/cherry-red hand: pledge of organized religion, sincerity, and justice; two right hands conjoined correspond union and alliance/mark of a baronet
Harp: well-composed person of tempered judgment; contemplation; mystical bridge between heaven and earth
Letter (i.eastward., a, b, c): may represent great battles or tournaments get-go with that letter
Plume of feathers: sign of willing obedience and tranquility of mind
Scallop shell: traveller to far places or victorious naval commander
Sphere: geographical or scientific reference
Sword/dagger/dart: justice and military award
Torch: life; zealousness; engaging in bespeak service; truth and intelligence
You tin trace your family history by researching your family unit tree on Genes Reunited. Mayhap y'all'll discover out if anyone in your family unit acquired a family crest or coats of artillery. Now you're aware of some of the meanings behind the colours and symbols, y'all might be able to determine some of your ancestors' traits and gain a sense of your family'southward heraldry.
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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