Irish Symbolism
Tinctures (colours)
Or (yellow or gold):
Generosity and elevation of the mind
Argent (white or
silver): Peace and sincerity
Gules (Red): Warrior or
martyr; Military strength and magnanimity
Azure (Blue):
Truth and loyalty
Vert (Green): Hope, joy, and loyalty in
love
Sable (Black): Constancy or grief
Pupure (Purple): Royal majesty, sovereignty, and justice
Tawny or Tenne (Orange): Worthy ambition
Sanguine
or Murray (Maroon): Patience in battle, and yet victorious
Furs (ermine, ermines, erminois, vair, counter vair, pean, potent counter
potent): Dignity
Arms may include lines or ordinaries that are shaped by lines as
follows . . .
Nebuly: Clouds or air
Wavy: Sea or water
Engrailed: Earth or
land
Invected: Earth or land
Indented: Fire
Dancette: Water
Raguly: Difficulties that have been encountered
Embattled: Walls of a fortress or town (also, fire)
Symbols
In additon to symbolic meanings, some symbols are used to
signify relationship to the original grantee. These symbols are known as
"differences" or "marks of cadency" and are the distinctions sometimes used to
indicate the various branches or cadets of one family. These are quite specific
and range as follows
Label - eldest
son
Crescent - second son
Mullet - third son
Martlet - fourth
son
Annulet - fifth son
Fleur-de-lis - sixth son
Rose -
seventh son
Cross moline - eigth
son
Double quatrefoil - ninth son
Symbolic meanings
Acacia: Eternal
and affectionate remembrance
Agricultural Tools:
Labouring in the earth and depending upon providence
Anchor: Hope
Angel: Dignity, glory,
and honour; missionary; bearer of joyful news
Ant:
Great labour, wisdom, and providence in one's affairs
Antlers: Strength and fortitude
Anvil:
Honour
Apple: Felicity and peace
Arm in Armour: Leadership
Arm Naked:
Industry
Arrow: Readiness (for battle); if depicted
with a cross, represents an affliction
Ass:
Patience and humility
Axe: Execution of military
duty
Banners: Special action in which bearer was
captured, or a reward for valiant service
Bar,
Barry, or Barrulet: One who sets the bar of conscience, religion, and honour
against angry passions and evil temptations
Barry
Wavy: Troubles keep us in continuous exercise and reminders of providence (as
waves in a storm at sea)
Baton:
Authority
Battle Axe: Execution of military
duty
Bay Leaves: Poet or victor's
laurel
Beacon: 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
Bell: Power to disperse evil spirits; a
hawk's bells denotes one not afraid of signalling his approach in peace or
war
Bend: Scarf or shield suspender of a knight
commander; signifies defence or protection
Boar:
Bravery; fights to the death. Celtic symbol of endurance and
courage
Boar's Head: Hospitality
Bones: Mortality
Book: Open:
manifestation; closed: counsel
Bow: Readiness (for
battle)
Bridge: Governor or
magistrate
Broom: Humility
Buck: One who will not fight unless provoked; peace and
harmony
Buckle: Victorious fidelity in
authority
Bull: Valour, bravery,
generosity
Bull's Horns: Strength and
fortitude
Butterfly: Soul
Camel: Docility, patience, and perseverance
Cannon and Cannon Balls: One who has dared the terror of such a
weapon in battle
Canton: Recognition from the
sovereign for performance of eminent service
Carnation: Admiration
Carpenter's
Square: Conforming one's actions to the laws of right and equity
Castle: Safety. May represent an actual building
Cat: Liberty, vigilance, forecast, and courage
Centaur: Eminence in the field of battle
Chain: 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
Chaplet: Crown of joy and
admiration
Cherub: Dignity, glory, and honour;
missionary; bearer of joyful news
Chevron:
Protection; Builders or others who have accomplished some work of faithful
service
Chough (Cornish): Strategist in battle;
watchful for friends
Cinquefoils: Hope and
joy
Civic Wreath: (of oak leaves and acorns) One
who saved a fellow citizen's life or shown patriotism in defence of one's native
land
Clarion: Ready for war
Claw: The biter bitten
Cock: Courage
and perseverance; hero; able in politics
Cockatrice: Terror to all beholders
Column: Fortitude and constancy; with serpent coiled around it,
wisdom with fortitude
Cornucopia: Bounty of
nature
Crane: Close parental bond; Vigilance if
holding a rock
Crescent: One who has been honoured
by the sovereign; hope of greater glory. Mark of the second son.
Cresset: One who is watchful, who gave the signal in time of
danger
Cross: Service in the
Crusades
Cross Crosslet: The fourfold mystery of
the cross
Cross Flory: One who has
conquered
Cross Raguly: Difficulties
encountered
Crown (Mural): Defender of a fortress,
token of civic honour; one who first mounted the breach in the walls of a
fortress
Crown (Naval): One who first boarded an
enemy's ship; distinguished naval commander
Cup
(covered): Office of the king's butler
Cushions:
Authority
Cygnet: Where gorged with a crown around
its neck, signifies dignity
Cypress: Death and
eternal life thereafter
Deer: One who will not
fight unless provoked; peace and harmony
Dice:
Constancy
Dolphin: Swiftness, diligence, charity,
and love
Dragon: Valiant defender of treasure;
valour and protection
Drops: One who has endured
torrents of liquids, as in battle, depending upon the colour of the
liquid.
Yellow: gold Blue: tears Green: oil White:
water Black: pitch or tar Red: blood
Drum: Ready
for war
Dove: Loving constancy and peace; with an
olive branch in its bill, good tidings
Duck:
Resourcefulness
Eagle: Nobility, strength, bravery,
and alertness; or one who is high-spirited, ingenious, quick-witted, and
judicious
Eagle displayed (wings spread):
protection
Eagle (two headed): Conjoining of two
forces
Elephant: Great strength, wit, and
ambition
Escallop: (sea shell) Traveller to far
places or victorious naval commander
Escarbuncle:
Supremacy; brilliant gem
Escutcheon of Pretence:
Claim of a prince to sovereignty; or marriage to an heiress of the
family
Estoile: Celestial goodness;
nobility
Falcon: One who does not rest until
objective achieved
Feathers: Obedience and
serenity
Fess: Military belt or girdle of honour;
represents readiness to serve the public
Fetterlock: Victory; one who has taken prisoners or rescued
prisoners of war
Fife: Ready for
war
Fire: Zealousness
Fish: A true, generous mind; virtuous for himself, not because of
his heritage
Flag: Refer to special action in which
bearer was captured, or a reward for valiant service
Fleur-de-lys: Purity; light; floral badge of France; represents
sixth son as mark of cadency
Flint: Readiness for
zealous service
Flowers: Hope and
joy
Fountain: Water, a spring
Fox: Defensive wisdom and wit
Fret:
Persuasion
Fruit: Felicity and
peace
Fusil: Travel and labour
Fusil of Yarn: Negotiation
Gannet: One
who has to subsist by virtue and merit
Garb or
Sheaf of wheat: The harvest of one's hopes has been secured
Gauntlet: Armed for the performance of martial
enterprise
Goat: Political ability
Goose: Resourcefulness
Grasshopper:
Noble and home-bred
Grenade: One who has dared the
terror of such a weapon in battle
Greyhound:
Courage, vigilance, and loyalty
Griffin: Valour and
death-defying bravery; vigilance
Hammer: Honour;
emblem of trade
Hand: Pledge of faith, sincerity,
and justice; two right hands conjoined represent union and
alliance
Hare: One who enjoys a peaceable and
retired life
Harp: Well-composed person of tempered
judgement; contemplation; heraldic symbol of Ireland
Harpy: Ferocity under provocation
Hawk: One who does not rest until objective
achieved
Head (Human): Honour; if the head of a
"blackamoor" or Moor, refers to deeds of prowess in the Crusades
Heart Flaming: Intense, burning affection
Heart Human: Charity and sincerity
Hedgehog: Provident provider
Helmet:
wisdom and security in defence
Hind: Peace and
harmony
Holly: Truth
Horns: Strength and fortitude
Horse:
Readiness for all employment for king and country
Horseshoe: Good luck and safeguard against evil
spirits
Hourglass: Flight of time;
mortality
Hunting Horn: One who is fond of the
chase, of high pursuits
Hydra: Conquest of a very
powerful enemy
Inescutcheon: Claim of a prince to
sovereignty; or marriage to an heiress of the family
Ivy: Strong and lasting friendship
Inkhorn: Art of writing and educated employment
Keys: Guardianship and dominion
Ladder: Fearlessness; against a tower, be on guard against
spiritual and corporeal enemies
Lamb: Gentleness
and patience under suffering
Lamb (Agnus Dei):
Faith, Bravery, resolute spirit
Laurel: Peace;
triumph
Leg: Strength, stability, and
expedition
Leopard: Valiant and hardy warrior who
enterprises hazardous things by force and courage
Lightning Bolt: Swiftness and power
Lily: Purity
Lion: Dauntless courage;
often represents a person or group of people
Lozenge: Constancy
Lyre:
Contemplation; tempered judgement
Marigold:
Devotion and piety
Martlet: Symbol of the fourth
son (mark of difference); one who subsists by virtue and merit, not
inheritance
Mascle: Persuasiveness
Mastiff: Courage, vigilance, and loyalty
Maunch: For the sake of my lady
Mermaid: Eloquence
Moon: Serene power
over mundane actions
Moor: Dates back to the Middle
Ages when it was considered an honour to take a Moor's head
Mortar: One who has dared the terror of such a weapon in
battle
Mule: Often borne by abbots and abbesses who
have pastoral jurisdiction, but not real jurisdiction
Mullet: Divine quality from above; mark of third
son
Musical: Pipes Festivity and
rejoicing
Oak: Great age and
strength
Oak with Acorns: Continuous growth and
fertility
Olive: Peace and
concordance
Ostrich: Willing obedience and
serenity
Otter: One who lives life to the
fullest
Ox: Valour and generosity
Pale: Military strength
Palm: Victory,
justice, and royal honour
Panther: Fierce, but
tender and loving to children and will defend children to the
death
Passion Nails: Poignant suffering undergone
by the bearer
Pavilion: Readiness for
battle
Peacock: Beauty, power, and
knowledge
Pears: Felicity and peace
Pegasus: Poetic genius and inspiration
Pelican: Self-sacrifice and charitable nature (based on the myth
that of times of famine a female pelican will nourish her young by piercing her
breast having them feed on her blood)
Pen: Art of
writing and educated employment
Pheon: Dexterity
and nimble wit; readiness for battle
Phoenix:
Resurrection
Pile: Engineering skills,
builder
Pillar: Fortitude and constancy; with
serpent coiled around, wisdom with fortitude
Pincers: Honour; emblem of the smith's trade
Pine: Death and eternal life thereafter
Pine Cone: Life
Pipes: Festivity and
rejoicing
Plume: Willing obedience and serenity of
mind
Pomegranate: Fertility and
abundance
Portcullis: Protection in an
emergency
Quatrefoil: Good tidings
Rabbit: Peaceable and retired life
Rainbow: Good times after bad
Ram:
Authority
Ratch-hound: Loyalty, courage, and
vigilance
Raven: Divine providence
Rhinoceros: Ferocious when aroused
Rock: Safety and protection; refuge
Rose: Mark of cadency of the seventh son
Rose Red: Grace and beauty
Rose White:
Love and faith
Roundles
Gold / Yellow (bezant): trustworthy or treasure
White / silver (plate): generosity
Green (pomeis): apple
Purple (golpe):
wounded
Blue (hurt): berry
Black (pellet or ogress): cannonball
Red (torteau): communion wafer or manchet cake
Tawney (orange): oranges
Saddle: Preparedness for
active service
Salamander:
Protection
Saltire: Resolution
Scythe / Sickle: The hope of a fruitful harvest
Seraphim: Dignity, glory, and honour missionary; bearer of joyful
news
Serpent / Snake: Wisdom
Shacklebolt: Victory; one who has taken prisoners or rescued
prisoners of war
Shamrock: Perpetuity; floral
device of Ireland
Shield: Defender
Ship: Sea voyages
Ship: Demasted
Disaster at sea
Skull: Mortality
Snail: Deliberation and perseverance
Snake: Wisdom
Spear: Honourable
warrior; valiant knight
Spearhead: Dexterity and
nimble wit; readiness for battle
Sphere:
Geographical or scientific reference
Sphinx:
Omniscience and secrecy
Spider: Wisdom, labour, and
prudence
Spur: Preparedness for active service;
pressing onward
Squares: Constancy
Squirrel: Lover of the woods
Stag: One
who will not fight unless provoked; peace and harmony
Stag's Antlers: Strength and fortitude
Steel: Readiness for zealous service
Stirrup: Readiness for active service
Stool: Hospitality
Stork: Filial duty;
close parental bond; holding a rock; vigilance
Sun:
Glory and splendour; fountain of life
Swallow: One
who is prompt and ready in doing business; bearer of good news
Swan: Poetic harmony and learning, or lover thereof
Sword: Justice and military honour
Table: Hospitality
Tabor: Festivity
and rejoicing
Talbot: Courage, vigilance, and
loyalty
Tent: Readiness for battle
Tiger: Fierceness and valour; resentment dangerous if
aroused
Torch: Zealousness; engaging in signal
service
Tortoise: Invulnerability to
attack
Tower: Safety and grandeur; sometimes a
building
Tree: Trunk New life sprouting from the
old
Trefoil: Perpetuity, if green, symbol of
Ireland
Trestle: Hospitality
Trumpet: Ready for war
Unicorn:
Extreme courage; virtue and strength
Vine: Strong
and lasting friendship
Water Bouget: One who
carried water to an army or a besieged place
Wheat-Ears: Faithfulness
Wheat Garb or
Sheaf: The harvest of one's hopes has been secured
Wheel: Fortune
Wheel (Catherine):
Torture
Wings: Swiftness and
protection
Wolf: Reward from perseverance in long
sieges and/or hard industry
Woodbine: Love that
does not injure that which it clings to
Wreath:
Triumph
Wyvern: Valour and
protection
Yew: Death and eternal life
thereafter