Family crest symbolism

boar
The boar and its various parts are frequently met with in heraldry. The boar is the symbol of intrepidness. A champion among wild beasts, he encounters enemies with nobility and courage, and has thus come to signify the traits of bravery and perseverance. The boar is a fierce combatant when at bay and never ceases to resist, even when cornered. This device was given only to those considered fierce warriors. A wild boar is referred to as a sanglier, though there isnt actually any difference from a domestic boar in the way that it is drawn. A Boar may be drawn whole in various different positions or couped. The head of a boar is sometimes drawn erect, with the snout pointing directly up.

lion
The lion has always held a high place in heraldry as the emblem of deathless courage, and, hence, that of a valiant warrior. It is said to be a lively image of a good soldier, who must be "valiant in courage, strong of body, politic in council and a foe to fear." Through the somewhat dubious legend of their compassion, lions also came to symbolize Christ. As one medieval author asserted, "they prey on men rather than women, and they do not kill children except when they are very hungry." The lion, with such repute of its noble nature and having the position and title of king of the beasts, is naturally one of the most common heraldic symbols on the continent of Europe. The winged lion is the emblem of St. Mark.

stag
The stag has a variety of symbolic meanings. It can indicate someone skillful in music and a lover of harmony. It may also indicate a person who foresees opportunities well. In the latter case it is a symbol used for one who is unwilling to assail enemies rashly, who would rather stand his own ground than harm another wrongfully, and one who will not fight unless provoked. Harmony, polity and peace are particularly associated with the female deer, called a hind or a doe. Antlers represent strength and fortitude. The stag or hart is also an emblem of purity and fleetness. The stag was associated with healing, for he knew which medicinal plants to take in order to shake off the hunter's arrow. The person bearing this symbol was considered impervious to weapons.

raven
As the collector of bright objects, the raven stands as a symbol of knowledge. It is also an emblem of divine providence. The raven is said to be a Danish device used as a heraldic symbol very early in history. Visually, no differentiation is made between the symbols of a raven, a rook or a crow. The symbol of the crow signifies that the bearer is someone who is watchful and vigilant for friends. The cornish chough is a bird that has been called the "King of Crows." It may indicate that the bearer is crafty and strategic, to the disadvantage of his enemies. It also signifies vigilance in watching over friends. According to Cornish legend, the spirit of King Arthur inhabited the chough. The chough distinguished from its counterparts by its red beak and legs.

wolf
The crest of a wolf has been granted to valiant captains who served loyally through long sieges or hard enterprises. It signifies valor and guardianship. Wolves were viewed as ferocious and merciless and it was thought that they could paralyze their enemies with a look before destroying them. The bearer of this symbol was a deadly enemy to have. Early wolves were drawn very crudely and do not resemble the animal very closely so later representations are preferred. The head of a wolf is particularly common in Scottish heraldry.

mermaid
The mermaid or merman is a favorite symbol of seafarers or anything related to the sea. Both are symbols of eloquence. A merman is also referred to as a triton and the image of Neptune, the Roman god of the sea, is very similar. It is often borne by seafarers as protection against the perils of the deep. In heraldry the merman is usually found as a supporter and less often as a charge on a shield. Siren is occasionally used as an alternate name for mermaid. The mermaid is much more common and is usually represented with the traditional mirror and comb in her hands. A melusine is a mermaid with two tails disposed on either side of her, a symbol that is commonly found in German heraldry.

crescent
The crescent stands for one who has been "enlightened and honored by the gracious aspect of his sovereign." It is also borne as a symbol of the hope of greater glory. Knights returning from the crusades introduced the crescent, the badge of Islam, into the language of heraldry. The heraldic crescent has a very deep base and curving horns that quickly sharpen to points close together. Crescents also represent the moon that lights the night sky for travelers, though it does not resemble the shape of a crescent moon very closely. In English arms it was also a mark of cadency signifying the second son. The reversed crescent is a crescent with the horns turned down. The term increscent indicates a crescent with the horns facing the observers left, and decrescent is a crescent facing the observers right.

griffin
The griffin is a mythical creature, with the head, wings and talons of an eagle and the body and hind legs of a lion. It is thus composed of the most royal of the birds and the beasts. The griffin was thought to find and guard mines of gold and hidden treasures. It is a principal device in heraldry, signifying valor, strength, vigilance, and perseverance. The symbolism of the griffin was described by Alexander Nisbet in his System of Heraldry (1722) translated from Latin as: "The griffin represents wisdom joined to fortitude, but wisdom should lead, and fortitude follow." A distinctive feature of the griffin is that it has ears, which are large and stand up from its head. This is the only feature that differentiates a griffin's head from an eagle's. The griffin can be found in all the heraldic positions (segreant, passant, sejant etc.). A male griffin, for some reason, does not have wings; instead it is adorned with spikes at various points. The male griffin is a much rarer heraldic charge than the winged female. In the middle ages hybrids such as this one were assumed to be possible and to actually exist, just as a mule, which is a cross between a horse and a donkey, existed. It then followed logically that as mules were unable to reproduce, neither would the griffin. This explained why griffins were so rare and hardly ever seen.

ship
The ship is an emblem of joy, happiness and adventure. It usually points to some notable quest at sea, by which the first bearer became famous, but in more ancient bearings the emblem may have simply been derived from a long-standing seafaring tradition. In heraldic terms there are three basic ships that may me used as a device on a shield: The ship, the lymphad and the galley. A lymphad usually only has one mast and a galley has three but the main differences between them are found in the shape and style of the vessel. Because there are so many different types of ships they must be carefully described in the blazon with respect to the number of masts and top-masts, the sails and the rigging. There are also ships in the forms of an ark, yacht, and steamer in more recent grants of arms.

castle
The castle, or fort, has often been granted to one who has faithfully held a castle for his sovereign, or who has captured one by force or stratagem. The castle signifies spiritual power and vigilance on the watch as well as home and safety. The tower is very similar to this and is an emblem of grandeur and society. It is a symbol of defense and of a steadfast individual. The visual difference between a tower and a castle is that a tower is a single column topped by a turret, and a castle usually has two towers joined by a wall with a door in it. This was a distinction that was rarely observed in ancient days, but now it is faithfully adhered to. When smaller towers surmount either a castle or a tower it is called triple-towered.

sun
The sun is an emblem of glory and brilliance. It is also a symbol of authority. It represents happiness, life and spirituality. The rising sun is a symbol of hope. The sun, when not rising, is always blazoned the sun in splendour. The rays are alternately straight and wavy, which symbolize the heat and light that we derive from them, and the heraldic sun usually has a human face though this is not strictly necessary. Rays of the sun, also called beams, are sometimes borne singly as in the ancient rolls, but more often they issue from other charges when described by one of the terms as radiant, rayonn or rayonnant. One ray of the sun signifies by the light of heaven.