Design your own coat of arms activity



History Detectives

What are Coats of Arms?

The Coat of Arms started in about the 12th Century. A knight dressed in armour from head to foot could not be recognised by friends or enemies. This resulted in markings being painted on knights’ shields, as it was the largest piece of equipment the knight had and as the shield was easily seen from far away.

A Coat of Arms was properly granted to someone with your surname many hundreds of years ago.

Have a go at designing your own

Your design should be made up of "clues" about yourself so that your friends would recognise it as being yours.

1. Use the blank Coat of Arms template: You do not have to stick to the European models; you can design this shield in any way you want. In fact, you may want to look at your own culture’s history to find samples and inspiration!

2. Have a look at the examples to get inspiration and to see what some real Coat of Arms look like.

3. Follow the stages below to create your own Coat of Arms.

1. SHIELD – This is the main body of the design. You might want to divide it up using crosses and lines. Each section should include something about what you like to do (hobby, sport or other pastime) or maybe what you would like to be when you grow up. Some of the symbols commonly used are shown below with there meaning, this might help give you some ideas.

2. COLOURS - choose your favourite colours for the background of your shield it could even be more than one colour, perhaps one or two for each section.

3. MOTTO – This appears at the bottom of the coat of arms and would normally be three words describing why the knight would be a good ally. Think of three words that sum up your strengths, or one of your strengths.

Some colours, symbols and animals had special meaning when use on Coats of Arms.

Bravery Red, Griffin (part eagle part lion), Unicorn, Lion, Tiger, Dragon, swords, horns, antlers

Kind Bear, Pelican

Loyal Blue, Dog, Wolf, Horse, Axe, Ring

Hard working Bees, Camel

Ambitious Snake

Enthusiasm Falcon, Hawk, Fire

Clever/ Wisdom Fox, Grasshopper, Cubes, Dice, Crescent

Leader Purple, Eagle, Crown, Bridge

Trustworthy Raven, Gold Circle

Peace & Harmony White, Silver, Stag, Elk, Deer, Moon

Grace Purple, Mermaid

Beauty Peacock, Butterfly

Honest/ Truthful Blue, Hand, Heart

Generous Yellow, Gold

4. NAME – What name befits your personality and character? (I would call myself, “William Smiles-and Cries-Easily” because I have become a very emotional person. Maybe I always have been an emotional person, but now, I express my emotions more easily, part of getting older and not caring what most people think of me.)

5. Heraldic Colors:

6. Yellow or Gold - Generosity

White or Silver - Peace & Sincerity

Black - Constancy (& sometimes Grief)

Blue - Loyalty & Truthfulness

Red - Military Fortitude & Magnanimity

Green - Hope, Joy & sometimes Loyalty

Purple - Royal Majesty, Sovereignty & Justice

7. Heraldic Animals:

Bear - Protectiveness

Bee - Industriousness

Camel - Perseverance

Dog - Loyalty

Double Eagle & Eagle - Leadership & Decisiveness

Dragon - Defender of Treasure

Falcon or Hawk - Eagerness

Fox - Cleverness

Griffin (part eagle, part lion) - Bravery

Horse - Readiness to Serve

Lion - Courage

Pelican - Generosity & Devotion

Raven - Constancy

Snake - Ambition

Stag, Elk or Deer - Peace & Harmony

Tiger - Fierceness & Valor

Unicorn - Extreme courage

Wolf - Constant Vigilance

Heraldic Symbols:

Axe - Dutiful

Bridge - (signifies a governor or magistrate)

Crescent - Enlightenment

Crosses - Christian sentiments

Crown - Authority

Fire - Zeal

Flaming Heart - Passion

Fleur-de-lys (stylized Iris flower) - Purity (associated with France)

Hand - Faith, Sincerity & Justice

Heart - Sincerity

Horns & Antlers - Fortitude

Lightning - Decisiveness

Moon - Serenity

Oyster Shell - Traveler

Ring - Fidelity

Scepter - Justice

Star - Nobility

Sun - Glory

Sword - Warlike

Tower or Castle - Fortitude & Protectiveness

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