What is a coat of arms?

A coat of arms is a hereditary symbol system with medieval European origins, initially for battlefield identification, that evolved to signify family descent, alliance, and property. The term comes from the surcoat worn over armor, displaying the bearer's arms from their banner and shield. Today, a coat of arms is an armorial achievement with a shield, helmet, mantling, wreath, and crest. The shield's surface, or field, is divided to locate designs. Heraldry uses tinctures like gold, silver, red, and blue, later adding black, green, and purple. Arms are hereditary and safeguarded by law in European monarchies.

Heraldry is both a science and an art concerning the usage, regulation, and display of hereditary symbols to distinguish individuals, institutions, armies, and corporations. These symbols, initially identification devices on flags and shields, are known as armorial bearings. Heraldry originated when most people were illiterate but could easily recognize a bold, striking, and simple design. The use of heraldry in medieval warfare enabled combatants to distinguish one mail-clad knight from another, and thus to distinguish between friend and foe.

What symbols can be found on a coat of arms?

Coats of arms, integral to heraldry, feature hereditary symbols that emerged in medieval Europe to establish identity in battle and evolved to signify family, alliance, and property. A typical coat of arms, or heraldic achievement, includes a shield (or escutcheon) displaying the arms, a helmet, and a mantling to protect the neck. It also has a wreath securing the mantling and crest, and the crest itself, which is a device above the helmet. Additional elements can include badges, mottoes, and supporters. The shield's surface, or field, is divided into chief (top) and base (bottom), sinister (left) and dexter (right, from the shield bearer's perspective). The field employs tinctures (colors), metals, and furs. Charges, or designs, are placed on the shield, with the honour point at the pale's center in chief, the nombril point at the pale's center in base, and the fess point at the shield's exact center.

Who used coats of arms in history, and why?

Coats of arms emerged in early medieval Europe as hereditary symbols to establish identity in battle. The term "coat of arms" comes from the surcoat, a cloth tunic worn over armor to protect it from the sun. The tunic displayed the bearer’s arms, which also appeared on banners, pennons, and shields, aiding heralds in identifying the dead on the battlefield and recognizing knights in tournaments. Initially, coats of arms helped to identify individuals, but they evolved to signify family descent, property ownership, alliances, adoption, and professions. Over time, arms were designed for organizations like schools, guilds, and societies to symbolize their mottos or histories.

How are coats of arms designed and passed down through families?

Coats of arms, which emerged in medieval Europe, served to establish identity in battle and evolved to signify family descent, property ownership, and profession. The design of a coat of arms includes a shield, helmet, mantling, wreath, and crest, with additions like badges and mottoes. The shield's surface, or field, is divided into sections to locate designs, called charges. Heraldry employs specific colors, metals, and furs, each with its terminology. Cadency marks, such as labels and crescents, indicate a family member's position, though their use has largely ceased except in the British royal family and Scotland, where strict rules apply. Arms are hereditary and protected by law in European monarchies, borne by all male descendants of the original recipient.

How do coats of arms represent identity or heritage today?

Coats of arms, or armorial bearings, originated in medieval Europe as hereditary symbols to establish identity in battle but evolved to represent family descent, property ownership, and profession. Today, they continue to symbolize identity and heritage, with widespread use by individuals, institutions, and corporations. Though once essential for distinguishing knights in combat, they now signify prestige and gentility. The emblems are sought to affirm social distinction, and their use has become more widespread than ever before. Heraldry has expanded globally, particularly in countries with European colonization.

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The Royal Arms of the United Kingdom as used in England, featuring a crowned shield flanked by a crowned lion on the left and a unicorn on the right, with decorative gold foliage, the royal crown above, and the motto Dieu et mon droit below. The royal cipher ER appears at the top, indicating Queen Elizabeth II, but is not part of the arms proper.

See an illustrated manuscript of 16th-century coats of arms, including commentary on whether Shakespeare is worthy of one

Heraldic shield with the coat of arms of Admiral Fadrique Enríquez, detail of an Admiral carpet, 15th century; in the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

The image shows yellow, green, and purple shields that might denote bastardy on a crest.

At a Glance

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Related Topics:: ordinary; shield; supporter; wreath; compartment

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Royal Arms of the United Kingdom, as used in England The chief components of armorial bearings as indicated on the Royal Arms of the United Kingdom as used in EnglandThe royal cipher (ER) is not a part of the arms proper but identifies them as representing Queen Elizabeth II. The Roman numeral II is unnecessary here, as the arms of Elizabeth I were different, apart from those of England. The shield shows England (in heraldic terms *gules three leopards or*) quartered with Scotland (*or a lion rampant within a double tressure flory counterflory gules*) and Ireland (*azure a harp or stringed argent*). This is the quartering in use since the accession of Queen Victoria in 1837. The shield is encircled by the garter of the Order of the Garter bearing the motto of the order, “Honi soit qui mal y pense” (“Evil to him who evil thinks”). The dexter supporter, a royally crowned gold lion guardant, and the sinister supporter, a silver unicorn with gold horn, hooves, mane, and tufts and a gold coronet collar and chain, represent England and Scotland, respectively. Atop the full-faced helm of a sovereign with its ermine and gold mantling, or lambrequin, is the royal crown surmounted by the royal crest, a lion statant guardant crowned with the royal crown. The motto “Dieu et mon droit” (“God and my right”), first used by Richard I, appears on the scroll below. The ground beneath the full achievement, called the compartment, is strewn with the floral and plant badges of England (rose), Scotland (thistle), Ireland (shamrock), and Wales (leek).

coat of arms

heraldry

Also known as: armorial bearings, shield of arms

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Top Questions

What is a coat of arms?
A coat of arms is a hereditary symbol system with medieval European origins, initially for battlefield identification, that evolved to signify family descent, alliance, and property. The term comes from the surcoat worn over armor, displaying the bearer's arms from their banner and shield.

Today, a coat of arms is an armorial achievement with a shield, helmet, mantling, wreath, and crest. The shield's surface, or field, is divided to locate designs. Heraldry uses tinctures like gold, silver, red, and blue, later adding black, green, and purple. Arms are hereditary and safeguarded by law in European monarchies.
2 Britannica Sources
1. Definition of coat of arms
2. coat of arms
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What is heraldry?
Heraldry is both a science and an art concerning the usage, regulation, and display of hereditary symbols to distinguish individuals, institutions, armies, and corporations. These symbols, initially identification devices on flags and shields, are known as armorial bearings.

Heraldry originated when most people were illiterate but could easily recognize a bold, striking, and simple design. The use of heraldry in medieval warfare enabled combatants to distinguish one mail-clad knight from another, and thus to distinguish between friend and foe.
1 Britannica Source
1. heraldry
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What symbols can be found on a coat of arms?
Coats of arms, integral to heraldry, feature hereditary symbols that emerged in medieval Europe to establish identity in battle and evolved to signify family, alliance, and property.

A typical coat of arms, or heraldic achievement, includes a shield (or escutcheon) displaying the arms, a helmet, and a mantling to protect the neck. It also has a wreath securing the mantling and crest, and the crest itself, which is a device above the helmet. Additional elements can include badges, mottoes, and supporters.

The shield's surface, or field, is divided into chief (top) and base (bottom), sinister (left) and dexter (right, from the shield bearer's perspective). The field employs tinctures (colors), metals, and furs. Charges, or designs, are placed on the shield, with the honour point at the pale's center in chief, the nombril point at the pale's center in base, and the fess point at the shield's exact center.
2 Britannica Sources
1. heraldry: The nature and origins of heraldic terminology
2. coat of arms
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Who used coats of arms in history, and why?
Coats of arms emerged in early medieval Europe as hereditary symbols to establish identity in battle. The term "coat of arms" comes from the surcoat, a cloth tunic worn over armor to protect it from the sun. The tunic displayed the bearer’s arms, which also appeared on banners, pennons, and shields, aiding heralds in identifying the dead on the battlefield and recognizing knights in tournaments.

Initially, coats of arms helped to identify individuals, but they evolved to signify family descent, property ownership, alliances, adoption, and professions. Over time, arms were designed for organizations like schools, guilds, and societies to symbolize their mottos or histories.
2 Britannica Sources
1. heraldry: Records and grants
2. coat of arms
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How are coats of arms designed and passed down through families?
Coats of arms, which emerged in medieval Europe, served to establish identity in battle and evolved to signify family descent, property ownership, and profession. The design of a coat of arms includes a shield, helmet, mantling, wreath, and crest, with additions like badges and mottoes. The shield's surface, or field, is divided into sections to locate designs, called charges.

Heraldry employs specific colors, metals, and furs, each with its terminology. Cadency marks, such as labels and crescents, indicate a family member's position, though their use has largely ceased except in the British royal family and Scotland, where strict rules apply. Arms are hereditary and protected by law in European monarchies, borne by all male descendants of the original recipient.
4 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How do coats of arms represent identity or heritage today?
Coats of arms, or armorial bearings, originated in medieval Europe as hereditary symbols to establish identity in battle but evolved to represent family descent, property ownership, and profession. Today, they continue to symbolize identity and heritage, with widespread use by individuals, institutions, and corporations.

Though once essential for distinguishing knights in combat, they now signify prestige and gentility. The emblems are sought to affirm social distinction, and their use has become more widespread than ever before. Heraldry has expanded globally, particularly in countries with European colonization.
3 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

coat of arms, the principal part of a system of hereditary symbols dating back to early medieval Europe, used primarily to establish identity in battle. Arms evolved to denote family descent, adoption, alliance, property ownership, and, eventually, profession.

The origin of the term coat of arms is in the surcoat, the cloth tunic worn over armour to shield it from the sun’s rays. It repeated the bearer’s arms as they appeared on his banner or pennon and on his shield, and it was particularly useful to the heralds as they toured the battlefield identifying the dead. It also identified the knight in the social surroundings of the tournament. What today is popularly termed a “coat of arms” is properly an armorial or heraldic “achievement” and consists of a shield accompanied by a warrior’s helmet, the mantling which protects his neck from the sun (usually slashed fancifully to suggest having been worn in battle), the wreath which secures the mantling and crest to the helmet, and the crest itself (the term for the device above the helmet, not a synonym for the arms). Additions to the achievement may include badges, mottoes, supporters, and a crown or coronet.

The surface of the shield (or escutcheon) is the field. This is divided into chief and base (top and bottom), sinister and dexter (left and right, from the viewpoint of the bearer of the shield, so that sinister is on the right of one facing the shield). Combinations of these terms, together with pale (the centre vertical third) and fess (the centre horizonal third), create a grid of nine points to locate the charges, or designs, placed upon the shield. The centre of the pale in chief is the honour point, the center of the pale in base is the nombril point, and the exact centre of the shield is the fess point.

Image shows a seal depicting several mythical creatures fighting.

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