What are the different parts of a coat of arms?

A modern coat of arms is a symbolic assertion of membership in an ancient line of descent. As one commentator has noted, it is “the method, which society has countenanced, of advertising to the world that one is of the upper class or a descendant of some ancestor who performed some glorious deed to which the arms have reference.”²³ As such, each element of the coat of arms is laden with meaning; each symbolizes some family achievement, claim, or story.

Moreover, because of the history of the coat of arms itself—descended as it is from the actual armor and other accouterments of medieval knights—each element represents what in the past was a piece of physical equipment. A full coat of arms consists of many such elements. Put together, they represent a heraldic achievement—the historical glory of a renowned family. Technically, the coat of arms itself is just the central element of the heraldic achievement—the shield itself (historically, a knight’s actual, decorated shield during a joust). Today, “coat of arms” usually refers to all or most of the elements of the complete heraldic achievement. From top to bottom, these elements are:²⁴

Slogan

The slogan is specifically part of the history of Scottish heraldry (the word comes from the Scottish-Gaelic sluagh-ghairm—“army cry”). Heraldic experts consider it a secondary motto (see below), but it is, quite literally, a battle cry. A famous example appears on the royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom: “God and my right” (“dieu at mon droit”).

Helm

The helm contains the crest, torse, and wreath, along with the shield or escutcheon, the helm is the most obviously tangible, physical element of the heraldic achievement. Originally, it was the actual helmet worn by a knight. The crest developed as a decoration on top of the helmet that could identify the knight in joust or battle, and it made its way into heraldic design. It is often fantastical in design, featuring stylized animals or birds’ wings. The torse was a wreath of cloth worn atop the helm and below the crest (see image); it has also become a decorative element of the coat of arms.

Mantling

In heraldic achievement, the mantling decorates the area around the helm. It can be intricate, but its twists and curlicues all have a specific intent as a family identifier. The colors, divisions, and lining of the mantling can take many variations, all of them associated with particular families. In history, the mantling was an actual drapery around the helm, intended to shield the wearer from rain, wind, and snow, and help cushion the head from blows in battle.

Crown

This is an uncommon element of a heraldic design, restricted to use by royal (crown) or noble (coronet) households. Its purpose is obvious: to identify the bearer as royalty or nobility. Like helms or shields, it was originally a physical crown or circlet that identified the bearer as such during battle.

Supporters

Supporters of the elements of a heraldic achievement, the supporters are the most symbolic and least historical. They rose to prominence only in the 15th century and didn’t become common until two centuries after that. The supporters are figures supporting the escutcheon; they are usually animals (real or fanciful) or other depictions of real-world objects, often with local significance. For example, in the heraldic device granted to the Cornwall County Council the supporters are a fisherman and a tin miner, representing important industries of that part of England.

Escutcheon

This is the device upon which the coat of arms is painted. It is the central and most prominent element of a heraldic achievement. In medieval combats or jousts, it was likely the single most easily identifiable symbol of a particular individual. Coats of arms vary from person to person; they have often historically been collected into armorials—reference guides to coats of arms produced for specific people, places, or events (like a specific jousting tournament, for example).

Motto

The motto lies at the bottom of the heraldic achievement; it summarizes a family’s motivation and reason for being. The motto is a succinct expression that encapsulates a family’s history, often stemming from the family’s social origins or hinting at significant events that determined its course. The majority of mottos are written in Latin (where the word has its origin), but some are in languages that hold meaning for the family or organization. Many also have religious significance: for example, the motto of the family Abercromby is “In cruce salus”—“in the cross is salvation.”²⁵