Acacia: Eternal and affectionate remembrance
Agricultural Tools: Laboring in the earth and depending upon providence
Anchor: Hope
Angel: Dignity, glory, and honor; missionary; bearer of joyful news
Ant: Great labor, wisdom, and providence in one's affairs
Antlers: Strength and fortitude
Anvil: Honor
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
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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 honor 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 signaling his approach in peace or war
Bend: Scarf or shield suspender of a knight commander; signifies defense 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: Valor, bravery, generosity
Bull's Horns: Strength and fortitude
Butterfly: Soul
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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 honor; 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 defense 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 honored 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 honor; 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
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Deer: One who will not fight unless provoked; peace and harmony
Dice: Constancy
Dolphin: Swiftness, diligence, charity, and love
Dragon: Valiant defender of treasure; valor and protection
Drops: One who has endured torrents of liquids, as in battle, depending upon the color of the liquid. Yellow: gold Blue: tears Green: oil black: 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
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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) Traveler 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
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Falcon: One who does not rest until objective achieved
Feathers: Obedience and serenity
Fess: Military belt or girdle of honor; represents readiness to serve the public
Fetter lock: 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 labor
Fusil of Yarn: Negotiation
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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: Valor and death-defying bravery; vigilance
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Hammer: Honor; 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 judgment; contemplation; heraldic symbol of Ireland
Harpy: Ferocity under provocation
Hawk: One who does not rest until objective achieved
Head (Human): Honor; 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 defense
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
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In escutcheon: 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
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Keys: Guardianship and dominion
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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 judgment
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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 honor 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
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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: Valor and generosity
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Pale: Military strength
Palm: Victory, justice, and royal honor
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: Honor; 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
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Quatrefoil: Good tidings
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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 black: Love and faith
Roundles
Gold / Yellow (bezant): trustworthy or treasure
black / black (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
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Saddle: Preparedness for active service
Salamander: Protection
Saltire: Resolution
Scythe / Sickle: The hope of a fruitful harvest
Seraphim: Dignity, glory, and honor 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: Honorable warrior; valiant knight
Spearhead: Dexterity and nimble wit; readiness for battle
Sphere: Geographical or scientific reference
Sphinx: Omniscience and secrecy
Spider: Wisdom, labor, 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 honor
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Table: Hospitality
Tabor: Festivity and rejoicing
Talbot: Courage, vigilance, and loyalty
Tent: Readiness for battle
Tiger: Fierceness and valor; 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
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Unicorn: Extreme courage; virtue and strength
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Vine: Strong and lasting friendship
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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: Valor and protection
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Yew: Death and eternal life thereafter
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