Look closely at a family crest and you are looking at a message. Every lion, every open hand, every sword and stag was placed there on purpose, in an age when a painted shield had to identify a single man at a glance across a crowded battlefield. Centuries later, those same figures still sit at the heart of the crests carried by Scottish and Irish families around the world. So what do the symbols on a family crest actually mean — and how do you begin to read the one behind your own surname?
Quick Answer: What Do Family Crest Symbols Mean?
In heraldry, each symbol on a family crest is called a charge, and each one carries a traditional meaning. A lion signifies courage and nobility; a stag peace and harmony; an open hand faith, sincerity and justice; a sword military honour; a boar fearlessness in battle; and an oak or tree strength and endurance. These meanings are conventions built up over centuries rather than a fixed legal code, and the same charge can carry slightly different associations in Scottish, Irish and English heraldic tradition.
What Is a "Charge" on a Family Crest?
A charge is any figure or emblem placed on a heraldic design — the animals, objects, and shapes you see on a shield or above a helm. Strictly speaking, the crest is only the device that sits on top of the helmet, while the full design is the coat of arms. The two terms are used interchangeably in everyday speech, but they are not the same thing, and the distinction matters when you start researching your own family. We cover it in detail in Family Crest vs. Coat of Arms: The Real History of Heraldry.
One important note before reading any meaning too literally: heraldic symbolism is a tradition, not a rulebook. A family did not always choose a lion because an ancestor was brave. Sometimes a charge was a visual pun on the surname, sometimes it echoed a feudal lord's arms, and sometimes it simply looked well on a shield. The meanings below are the associations that built up over centuries — a language worth knowing, but one to read with a light touch.
What Do Animals Mean on a Family Crest?
Animals are the most common charges in heraldry, and the beasts a family chose said a great deal about how it wished to be seen.
- Lion — courage, nobility and royalty. The most popular charge in all of heraldry, often shown rampant (rearing on its hind legs) to signal a bold and ready defender.
- Stag or deer — peace, harmony and a love of the natural world; also linked to those who would not fight unless provoked.
- Boar — bravery and fierceness in battle, and a warrior who fights to the last.
- Dog or hound — loyalty, faithfulness and watchfulness; a protector of the family.
- Horse — readiness to serve, speed and the willingness of a soldier.
- Bull — valour, strength and a generosity of spirit.
Scotland in particular is rich in animal charges, and many clans are instantly recognised by their beast. We explore these in Animals of Scottish Heraldry: What Your Clan's Beast Says.
What Do Birds Mean in Heraldry?
Birds appear almost as often as beasts, each carrying its own association.
- Eagle — strength, leadership and a person of action and noble nature.
- Falcon or hawk — eagerness and determination in pursuing one's aims.
- Raven or corbie — foresight and constancy; a bird woven through Scottish and Norse tradition alike.
- Swan — grace, sincerity and a lover of harmony and learning.
- Martlet — a stylised swallow shown without feet, traditionally the mark of a fourth son, signifying one who must make his own way.
What Do Hands, Swords and Human Symbols Mean?
Some of the most striking charges are human figures and objects of arms.
- Hand — faith, sincerity and justice. An open right hand was a pledge of good faith. In Irish heraldry the Red Hand carries a particular meaning tied to the province of Ulster, which we cover in Irish Family Crest Symbols Explained.
- Sword — military honour, justice and readiness to defend.
- Armoured arm — a person of leadership and action, often shown grasping a weapon.
- Heart — sincerity and charity, and one of the most famous charges in Scottish heraldry through its association with Clan Douglas and the heart of Robert the Bruce.
- Crown — royal or seigneurial authority, or service to the Crown.
What Do Plants and Natural Symbols Mean?
- Oak, tree or branch — strength, endurance and deep-rooted stability; the oak was especially prized across the Celtic world for its steadfastness.
- Thistle — Scotland itself, and the resilience and defiance that the national flower represents.
- Rose — hope, joy and beauty; a red rose for grace, a white rose for faith and love.
- Escallop (scallop shell) — a traveller who has journeyed to distant places, or a victorious naval commander; long linked to pilgrimage.
- Crescent — one who has been "enlightened" or honoured, and traditionally the mark of a second son.
- Star or mullet — a noble aim, and the mark of a third son.
Do the Colours on a Crest Have Meaning Too?
They do. In heraldry, colours — known as tinctures — carry their own associations, from gold for generosity to red for courage and blue for loyalty. They are a whole language in themselves, and we unpack them in What Do the Colours on a Family Crest Mean? Colour meaning on a crest is a separate tradition from the colours in a clan tartan, which we cover in What Do Tartan Colours Mean?
How Do I Find the Symbols on My Own Family Crest?
Start with your surname. Many Scottish and Irish surnames are linked to a clan or family whose historic crest and motto are well documented, and tracing that link is the first step. Our guide How to Find Your Scottish Clan walks through it, and the Scottish Sept Names list can help if your name is a sept of a larger clan.
One honest caveat worth keeping in mind: in the strict tradition, arms belong to an individual, not to everyone who happens to share a surname. What the symbols mean, though, belongs to everyone who wants to understand them — and displaying the historic crest linked to your family name is a long and cherished way of honouring your roots. We explore where the line sits in Can Anyone Use a Family Crest?
Search your clan or surname in the bar at the top of this page to see your family's historic crest brought to life on a mug like this.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a family crest the same as a coat of arms?
No. The crest is only the device on top of the helmet. The coat of arms is the full design, including the shield, helm, crest, mantling and motto. The terms are used interchangeably in everyday speech but mean different things in heraldry.
Does every surname have a crest?
Not every surname has a historic coat of arms, and those that do were originally granted to an individual rather than to a whole family. Many Scottish and Irish surnames are linked to a clan or family whose crest and motto are well recorded, which is where most people begin.
What is the most common symbol in heraldry?
The lion is by far the most common charge, appearing in countless European and British arms as a mark of courage and nobility.
Can two different families share the same symbol?
Yes. A charge such as a lion or a stag appears across many unrelated families. It is the full combination of charges, colours and arrangement — described precisely in the blazon — that makes a coat of arms unique.
Own a Piece of Your Heritage
Your family's crest does not have to live only on a page in a history book. Use the search bar at the top of this page and type your clan or surname to see what we carry for your family — our heritage trio of woven blankets, mugs and garden flags, alongside apparel, ornaments and more.
Celtic Ancestry Gifts is a family-run business dedicated to preserving the grit and glory of Celtic history, helping families across the world carry their Scottish, Irish and Welsh heritage with pride. Every order is backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.