Types of Heraldic Symbols and Importance

Heraldic symbols have intrigued people since a long time. They are usually a signal of ancestral pride and that is why people have hunted down their lineage through heraldry. There are various types of heraldic symbols and all of them have a basic classification. Here is a list of all the types of heraldic symbol classification. Every heraldry symbol falls under one of these classifications. There are fictitious arms as well invented in the fifteenth and sixteenth century for royalty which died before the coat of arms was designed. Also outside the family or individual types of heraldic symbols there are classifications.

Succession

Those who inherit any estate by bequest, entail or donation takes up such heraldic symbols.

Community

Corporate bodies such as cities, universities or any other type of institution generally takes up this type of heraldic symbol.

Dominion

These are generally regarded as the arms of the state. They are held by kings or sovereigns. The lion of England and the Russian eagle are basic examples of such type of heraldic symbol. These cannot be altered by a change in dynasty or ruler.

Pretension

These heraldic symbols are generally held by kings and princes who own or claim a part of another territory. They do not own it fully so if they claim a part of this, it is the type of symbol which is showcased in the territory.

Concession

Arms granted due to extraordinary bravery, virtue, valour or deeds are known as concession arms. All the arms which were generally granted to subjects were originally conceded by the sovereign.

Paternal arms

This type of arms belongs to a certain family and outlines their ancestry. This type of heraldic symbolism cannot be copied by anyone else which is an unacceptable breach of conduct. These are modified over time by predecessors to keep up with the current time. Due to this, many symbols have lost their importance as they have become hardly noticeable and there is no way to track back to the original design since it was centuries back.

Alliance

This is the type of arms which is gained after a marriage. When two families get together to form a bond through marriage they are provided with a new set of arms which showcases their bonding.

Patronage

These are the arms worn by the followers which are a variation of the original arms which is the sign of their leader or king. They indicate a level of dependence on the original design.

Office

The arms worn by associates who hold an office under the king or the ruler wear this type of arms. They are also generally the same as the king’s with minor changes or the design and is heavily dependent on the king’s or ruler’s original design.

These are the basic types of heraldry symbols which were and are still used. More details can be found on sites such as Heraldryandcrests.com. The effect of the coat of arms has greatly diminished over time however it still stands strong in certain countries.

About The Author

Felicity Queen is an expert on the concept of family crests, coat of arms and heirlooms. She loves writing on the topic of the most famous crests throughout history and recommends HeraldryAndCrests.com as the number one coat of arms maker of you are looking to get something similar designed for your family name.

Felicity Queen is an expert on the concept of family crests, coat of arms and heirlooms.