Themes in heraldry

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THEMES IN HERALDRY


This page is the starting point to look for a coat of arms with a particular charge or shield division or to identify unknown arms. As not all arms on the site are categorised, I can not guarantee that an image can be found. If you can not find the image, you can also send a mail to see if I can help.

All themes added so far can be found at the Alphabetical list of all themes (over 2200 !) or start with the categories below !

this section is and will always be under construction as the number of charges is endless !

Divisions of the shield and geometrical patterns (ordinaries and subordinaries)

  • Non divided (plain) shields
Some examples: Douai.jpg
Red
Ste-herm.jpg
Ermine
  • Shielddivision.gif Division of the shield This includes any form of horizontal, vertical or other division of the whole shield. It also includes wavy and other non straight division lines.
Some examples: Kleineut.jpg
Per pale
Bucinau.jpg
Per bend
Vielmura.jpg
Quarterly
Arceyd.jpg
Free canton
Pihtipud.jpg
Per saltire
Saffre.jpg
Chiefs
Rauman.jpg
Bases
  • Maggia1.jpg Bars, pales, bends etc This includes any pale (vertical), bar (horizontal) or bend (diagonal) in a shield or part thereof. It also includes wavy and other non straight division lines.
Some examples: Obernhei.jpg
Bars
Donjeuxm.jpg
Pales
Asuel.jpg
Bends
Bavinchove.jpg
Barry
Arsf.jpg
Paly
Eymoutiers.jpg
Bendy
Ozzero.jpg
Chequy
  • Valchava.jpg Chevrons This includes any chevron (V-shape) in a shield or part thereof. It also includes wavy and other non straight division lines.
Some examples: Essartse.jpg
Chevrons
Valchava.jpg
Inverted
Bioleym.jpg
Wavy
Windecke.jpg
Chevronny
  • Salsigne.jpg Subordinaries This includes any geometrical charge in a shield or part thereof, such as circles (rings, balls), squares, diamonds, lozenges etc.
Some examples: Gissighe.jpg
Rings
Courfaivre.jpg
Bordures
Messeric.jpg
Labels
Claville.jpg
Diamonds
  • Bort-les-Orgues.jpg Crosses This includes any type of cross in the whole shield or part thereof. It also includes wavy and other non straight division lines.
Some examples: Grusch.jpg
Crosses
Bochingen.jpg
Saltires
Meckel.jpg
Special crosses


Heraldic or phantasy creatures

The arms show a heraldic animal or creature (or a part thereof). This includes the well known heraldic animals, such as lions and eagles, mythological creatures, such as dragons, mermaids and phoenices, but also combined phantasy creatures (deer-fish, winged foxes etc). It also includes zodiac signs.

  • Emden.jpg For an overview of all heraldic or phantasy creatures, see here
Some examples: Ladekzdroj.jpg
Lions
Aachen.jpg
Eagles
Griffin Segreant.gif
Griffins
Draguign.jpg
Dragons
Wangerla.jpg
Mermaids etc

Living nature

The arms shows a natural human, plant or animal, or parts thereof

Animals (natural)

Humans

The arms shows humans of parts of humans

For any undefined person showing a profession, see the categories below (f.e. farmers are under the category Agricultre)

Fungi and mushrooms

Plants

Non-living nature

This includes all geological, meteorological or astronomical themes.

Other categories in this section :

Other charges by category


  • Giraltov.jpg Agriculture and fisheries This includes any type of charge dealing with agriculture and fisheries, except the plants or animals which are listed separately. Agricultural buildings and parts thereof (such as granaries) are listed under buildings.
Some examples: Konigsfe.jpg
Flails
Zbudsked.jpg
Harrows
Nemecky.jpg
Farmers
Altensta.jpg
Horseshoes


  • Bad-gode.jpg Buildings This includes any type of building, old or modern.
Some examples: Plouhine.jpg
Bridges
Bargenst.jpg
Farms
Sudtonde.kreis.jpg
Lighthouses
Edewecht.jpg
Windmills
Fallingb.kreis.jpg
Dolmens etc


Some examples: Kriegshe.jpg
Closed books
Attensch.gif
Compasses
Molca.jpg
Letter M
Slatinas.jpg
Globes
Chukotka.jpg
Maps


  • Hornechlebany.jpg Food and cooking This includes any type of food not listed under Plants. It includes meats, bread, salt and and similar products. It also includes cooking utensils, such as forks, jugs, jars and kettles.
Some examples: Kiduliai.jpg
Cornucopia
Tienhovenzh.hag.jpg
Hams
Lauchhei.jpg
Leeks
Grossger.jpg
Cabbages
Kaisers.jpg
Kettles


  • Pfettish.jpg Industry, mining and tools This includes any type of charge dealing with small or large industry, ranging from spinning wheels to nuclear power symbols and chemical structures. Industrial buildings and parts thereof (such as wind mill blades) are listed under buildings. For agricultural and fisheries charges, see Agriculture.
Some examples: Spechbachh.gif
Hammers
Riedelbe.jpg
Roof tiles
Jerrisho.jpg
Anvils
Steimbke.jpg
Oil pumps
Banbridg.jpg
Spindles


Some examples: Jacovce.jpg
Bagpipes
Vilarmouros.gif
Guitars
Spielbe2.jpg
Harps
Mackenba.jpg
Lyres
Karow.jpg
Organs and organ pipes


  • Niedernhausen.jpg Religious objects This includes anything to do with religion, God, Saints and their symbols, monks, churches, angels etc. of any (former) religion.
Some examples: St-georg.jpg
Saints
Jablonic.jpg
Adam and Eve
Munchenb.jpg
Monks
Dudenho1.jpg
Lutheran rose
Zianof.jpg
Venus


  • Cerenany.jpg Royalty This includes anything to do with royalty, such as crown, orbs, sceptres etc.
Some examples: Golubdobrzynrm.jpg
Crowns
Eime.jpg
Thrones
Buchsh.jpg
Orbs
Menoux.jpg
Sceptres


  • Lilleham.gif Sports This includes any sport-relates items or persons.
Some examples: Tourgéville.jpg
Golf
Saint-Arnoult (Calvados).jpg
Tennis
Trysil.jpg
Skis
Edmonton-rel.jpg
Snowshoes


  • Hensbroek.hag.jpg Clothes This category includes any non-military type of clothes, such as shirts, gloves, hats, boots etc. For helmets, chain mail and military gloves, see Military
Some examples: Aubignyn.jpg
Buckles
Partizan.jpg
Shoes
Altecken.jpg
Cloaks
Sabotterie.jpg
Wooden shoes
Capela.png
Belts


  • Qaasuitsup.jpg Transport This includes any type of boat, car, train etc as well as parts thereof (wheels, oars).
Some examples: Orly.gif
Planes
Guardao.jpg
Cars
Towerham.jpg
Lymphads
Olsdorf.jpg
Single wheels
Wimereux.jpg
Balloons


  • Oostmahoorn.jpg Military This includes any type of military item.
Some examples: Australian National University.jpg
Boomerangs
Besteiros.gif
Crossbows
Sachsenhausen.jpg
Swords
Grimmels.jpg
Sabres
Cristeloc.gif
Chain mail


  • Altstadten.jpg Archaeology This includes any type of human made object found in archaeological excavations, or prehistoric buildings and artefacts.
Some examples: Grossenk.jpg
Dolmens
Eilvese.jpg
Urns
Fonelas.png
Carvings
Blovstro.jpg
Axes


  • Niederw2.jpg Other objects Any object not classified in any of the categories above (such as candles etc)
Some examples: Strahovi.jpg
Clocks
Schiffweiler2.jpg
Escarbuncles
Wurzburg.jpg
Flags
Argentat.jpg
Keys
Legau.jpg
Fasces