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"The lion holds an important place among the animals born in coat-armor. As early as the 12th century, the king of beasts was assumed as an appropriate emblem by the sovereigns of England, Scotland, Norway, Denmark, the native princes of Wales, the counts of Flanders and Holland, and various other European potentates." — Chambers, 1881

Rampant Lion

"The lion holds an important place among the animals born in coat-armor. As early as the 12th century,…

"The lion holds an important place among the animals born in coat-armor. As early as the 12th century, the king of beasts was assumed as an appropriate emblem by the sovereigns of England, Scotland, Norway, Denmark, the native princes of Wales, the counts of Flanders and Holland, and various other European potentates." — Chambers, 1881

Rampant Regardant Lion

"The lion holds an important place among the animals born in coat-armor. As early as the 12th century,…

"Two lioncels addorsed or back to back. LIONCELS. Two or more lions." -Hall, 1862

Lioncels Addorsed

"Two lioncels addorsed or back to back. LIONCELS. Two or more lions." -Hall, 1862

"Lioncels combatant. LIONCELS. Two or more lions. COMBATANT. A French word for fighting." -Hall, 1862

Lioncels Combatant

"Lioncels combatant. LIONCELS. Two or more lions. COMBATANT. A French word for fighting." -Hall, 1862

"Or, two lions passant counter passant gules, the uppermost facing the sinister side of the escutcheon, both collared sable, garnished argent. COUNTER PASSANT. Two animals passing the contrary way to each other." -Hall, 1862

Lions Counter Passant

"Or, two lions passant counter passant gules, the uppermost facing the sinister side of the escutcheon,…

"An incorporated lion gardant in the fess point." -Hall, 1862

Incorporated Lions Gardant

"An incorporated lion gardant in the fess point." -Hall, 1862

Lisle bore Gules a leopard silver crowned gold.

Lisle

Lisle bore Gules a leopard silver crowned gold.

Longchamp bore Ermine three crescents gules pierced silver.

Longchamp

Longchamp bore Ermine three crescents gules pierced silver.

The heraldic shield of William Longspée, the 3rd Earl of Salisbury.

Shield of William Longspée

The heraldic shield of William Longspée, the 3rd Earl of Salisbury.

The heraldic seal of the Dauphin Louis in 1216.

Seal of the Dauphin Louis

The heraldic seal of the Dauphin Louis in 1216.

Lovett of Astwell has three running wolves

Lovett

Lovett of Astwell has three running wolves

"Or, a lozenge vert. LOZENGE. An angular figure, known as diamond-shaped, to distinguish it from the square." -Hall, 1862

Lozenge

"Or, a lozenge vert. LOZENGE. An angular figure, known as diamond-shaped, to distinguish it from the…

"Argent, a lozenge, vert. The lozenge is formed by four equal and parallel lines but not rectangular, two of its opposite angles being acute, and two obtuse." -Hall, 1862

Lozenge Ordinary

"Argent, a lozenge, vert. The lozenge is formed by four equal and parallel lines but not rectangular,…

"The escutcheons of maiden ladies and widows are painted on a lozenge-shaped shield." -Hall, 1862

Lozenge Shield

"The escutcheons of maiden ladies and widows are painted on a lozenge-shaped shield." -Hall, 1862

A lozenge shape of a shield or escutcheon in heraldry.

Lozenge-Shaped Shield

A lozenge shape of a shield or escutcheon in heraldry.

"Lozengy gules and argent. LOZENGY. Covered with lozenges." -Hall, 1862

Lozengy

"Lozengy gules and argent. LOZENGY. Covered with lozenges." -Hall, 1862

Lucy bore Gules three luces (or pike) silver.

Lucy

Lucy bore Gules three luces (or pike) silver.

The Stanleys, as Kings of man, quartered the famous three-armed legs whirling mill-sail fashion

Isle of Man

The Stanleys, as Kings of man, quartered the famous three-armed legs whirling mill-sail fashion

"Argent, a manche, gules. MANCHE. An ancient sleeve with long hangings to it." -Hall, 1862

Manche

"Argent, a manche, gules. MANCHE. An ancient sleeve with long hangings to it." -Hall, 1862

An illustration of manche as a helraldic bearing.

Manche Heraldry

An illustration of manche as a helraldic bearing.

Marshalling is the art of correctly arranging armorial bearings. Two or more coats of arms are often combined in one shield to express inheritance, claims to property, or the occupation of an office. Marshalling can be done in a number of ways, but the principal mode is impalement, which replaced the earlier dimidiation which simply halves the shields of both and sticks them together. Impalement involves using one shield with the arms of two families or corporations on either half.

Marshaling

Marshalling is the art of correctly arranging armorial bearings. Two or more coats of arms are often…

"Argent, a martlet, gules. MARTLET. An imaginary bird said to be without legs; it is used both as a charge and a difference." -Hall, 1862

Martlet

"Argent, a martlet, gules. MARTLET. An imaginary bird said to be without legs; it is used both as a…

A martlet is a heraldic charge depicting a mythical bird, similar in appearance to the swallow, but with short tufts of feathers in the place of legs (swifts have such small legs that they were believed to have none at all).

Martlet

A martlet is a heraldic charge depicting a mythical bird, similar in appearance to the swallow, but…

"Fourth Son, the MARTLET. The differences used by armorists at the present time are nine in number. They not only distinguish the sons of one family, but also denote the subordinate degrees in each house." -Hall, 1862

Martlet Difference

"Fourth Son, the MARTLET. The differences used by armorists at the present time are nine in number.…

The heraldic charge borne by the fourth eldest son in a family.

The Martlet

The heraldic charge borne by the fourth eldest son in a family.

"Argent, a mascle, vert. MASCLE. An open lozenge-shaped figure, one of the subordinate ordinaries." -Hall, 1862

Mascle

"Argent, a mascle, vert. MASCLE. An open lozenge-shaped figure, one of the subordinate ordinaries."…

A mascle is a voided lozenge-- that is, a lozenge with a lozenge-shaped hole in the middle-- and the rarer rustre is a lozenge containing a circular hole. A field covered in a pattern of lozenges is described as lozengy; similar fields of mascles are masculy, and fusils, fusily.

Mascle

A mascle is a voided lozenge-- that is, a lozenge with a lozenge-shaped hole in the middle-- and the…

"Gules, a mascle, argent. The mascle is in the shape of a lozenge but perforated through its whole extent except a narrow border." -Hall, 1862

Mascle Ordinary

"Gules, a mascle, argent. The mascle is in the shape of a lozenge but perforated through its whole extent…

Mauley bore Gold a bend sable

Mauley

Mauley bore Gold a bend sable

Melton bore Silver a Tolouse cross gules. By giving this cross a name form the counts of Toulouse, it's best know bearers, some elaborate blazonry is spared.

Melton

Melton bore Silver a Tolouse cross gules. By giving this cross a name form the counts of Toulouse, it's…

"Argent, a mermaid gules, crined or. CRINED. This is said of an animal whose hair is of a different tincture from its body." -Hall, 1862

Mermaid Crined

"Argent, a mermaid gules, crined or. CRINED. This is said of an animal whose hair is of a different…

The mill-rind, which it takes its name from the iron of a mill stone- fer de moline

Mill-rinds

The mill-rind, which it takes its name from the iron of a mill stone- fer de moline

"Argent, a millrind, gules. MILLRIND. The iron placed in the centre of a grindstone to protect the hole in the centre from the action of the axis; it is a charge frequently borne on escutcheons of persons connected with agriculture." -Hall, 1862

Millrind

"Argent, a millrind, gules. MILLRIND. The iron placed in the centre of a grindstone to protect the hole…

"MITRE. A sacerdotal ornament for the head, worn by Roman Catholic archbishops and bishops on solemn occasions. " -Hall, 1862

Mitre

"MITRE. A sacerdotal ornament for the head, worn by Roman Catholic archbishops and bishops on solemn…

"Mitre. A sacerdotal ornament for the head, worn by Roman Catholic archbishops and bishops on solemn occasions." -Hall, 1862

Mitre

"Mitre. A sacerdotal ornament for the head, worn by Roman Catholic archbishops and bishops on solemn…

A modern shape of a shield or escutcheon in heraldry.

Modern Shield

A modern shape of a shield or escutcheon in heraldry.

A modern shape of a shield or escutcheon in heraldry.

Modern Shield

A modern shape of a shield or escutcheon in heraldry.

The heraldic charge borne by the eighth eldest son in a family.

The Cross Moline

The heraldic charge borne by the eighth eldest son in a family.

The heraldic shield of Sir Edward de Montague.

Shield of Sir Edward de Montague

The heraldic shield of Sir Edward de Montague.

Monfort of Whitchurch bore Bendy of ten pieces gold and azure.

Monfort

Monfort of Whitchurch bore Bendy of ten pieces gold and azure.

Monthermer bore Gold an eagle vert

Monthermer

Monthermer bore Gold an eagle vert

"Azure, a moon decrescent, proper. DECRESSANT, or DECRESCENT. A moon in its wane, whose horns are turned to the sinister side of the escutcheon." -Hall, 1862

Moon Decrescent

"Azure, a moon decrescent, proper. DECRESSANT, or DECRESCENT. A moon in its wane, whose horns are turned…

"Argent, the moon in her detriment sable. DETRIMENT. The moon is said to be in its detriment when it is eclipsed." -Hall, 1862

Moon Detriment

"Argent, the moon in her detriment sable. DETRIMENT. The moon is said to be in its detriment when it…

Mortimer of Norfolk bore gold powdered with fleur-de-lys sable

Mortimer

Mortimer of Norfolk bore gold powdered with fleur-de-lys sable

Sir Ralph Mounchensy bore in the 14th century Silver a chevron between three billets sable on the bend

Mounchensy

Sir Ralph Mounchensy bore in the 14th century Silver a chevron between three billets sable on the bend

"MOUND. A globe encircled with a band and surmounted with a cross; it is an ensign of royalty, signifying dominion." -Hall, 1862

Mound

"MOUND. A globe encircled with a band and surmounted with a cross; it is an ensign of royalty, signifying…

"Azure, a mullet or. MULLET. From the French word molette, the rowel of a spur: it is generally drawn with five points, as in the annexed example: when more points are used they are named." -Hall, 1862

Mullet

"Azure, a mullet or. MULLET. From the French word molette, the rowel of a spur: it is generally drawn…

"Third Son, the MULLET. The differences used by armorists at the present time are nine in number. They not only distinguish the sons of one family, but also denote the subordinate degrees in each house." -Hall, 1862

Mullet Difference

"Third Son, the MULLET. The differences used by armorists at the present time are nine in number. They…

"Argent, a mullet pierced, sable, on a chief azure, three mullets pierced, of the first. PIERCED OR PERFORATED. Cut through the centre." -Hall, 1862

Mulllet Pierced

"Argent, a mullet pierced, sable, on a chief azure, three mullets pierced, of the first. PIERCED OR…

The heraldic charge borne by the third eldest son in a family.

The Mullet

The heraldic charge borne by the third eldest son in a family.

"Argent, three mullets gules, accompanied with seven cross crosslets fitchy sable—three in chief, one in fess, two in flanks, one in base. FLANK. That part of an escutcheon between the chief and the base." -Hall, 1862

Mullets and Cross Crosslets

"Argent, three mullets gules, accompanied with seven cross crosslets fitchy sable—three in chief,…

"Per pale, or and azure, on a chevron, three mullets all counter-changed. COUNTER-CHANGED. The intermixture of metal with colours opposed to each other." -Hall, 1862

Mullets Counter-Changed

"Per pale, or and azure, on a chevron, three mullets all counter-changed. COUNTER-CHANGED. The intermixture…

Plumetty of gold and purple for Mydlam of Coverdale

Mydlam

Plumetty of gold and purple for Mydlam of Coverdale

"Argent, a salmon proper, naiant, its head towards the sinister side of the shield. NAIANT. A French term for swimming. This term is used in Heraldry when a fish is drawn in an horizontal position." -Hall, 1862

Naiant

"Argent, a salmon proper, naiant, its head towards the sinister side of the shield. NAIANT. A French…

Nauton bore Sable three martlets silver

Nauton

Nauton bore Sable three martlets silver

The heraldic crest of Newcombe.

Crest of Newcombe

The heraldic crest of Newcombe.

The heraldic helmet of princes and nobles.

Helm of the Princes and Nobles

The heraldic helmet of princes and nobles.

The coat of arms of the Duke of Norfolk.

Arms of the Duke of Norfolk

The coat of arms of the Duke of Norfolk.

"KNIGHT AND BARONET OF NOVA SCOTIA. A new creation during the reign of George I. to induce capitalists to settle in that part of North America. The title is hereditary: the arms are argent, St. Andrew's Cross gules surtout, an escutcheon or, with a lion rampant gules within a double tressure of the same, surmounted by a king's crown as a crest." -Hall, 1862

Knight and Baronet of Nova Scotia

"KNIGHT AND BARONET OF NOVA SCOTIA. A new creation during the reign of George I. to induce capitalists…

Odingseles bore Silver a fesse gules with a molet gules in the quarter.

Odingseles

Odingseles bore Silver a fesse gules with a molet gules in the quarter.