Swayne Coat of Arms

The study of heraldic symbolism is as much an art as it is a science. A symbol for one COA may have been intended to imply one meaning for one person but it could have meant something entirely different to another family's COA. Therefore, knowing the family history or the individual who received the COA may assist in the interpretation of the symbols. Since many facts about the individuals who were granted the COA may never be revealed, these images and corresponding explanations are generic. However, I have attempted to interpret their meaning whenever possible. The symbol definitions that follow were taken the following heraldry websites:

Arms: Azure, a chevron between three pheons or, on a chief gules, as many maidens' heads couped proper, crined of the second.

Azure: Azure is the color blue. The color blue is typically associated with truth and loyalty.

Chevron: A chevron in heraldry is one of nine recognized designs of lines on the shield. These designs are called Ordinaries. A chevron can mean protection but it can also mean builders or others who have accomplished some work of faithful service. Given the fact that William of Salisbury was rich and he funded the construction of the Lady Chapel at Saint Thomas's Church, I would lean toward the latter explanation.

Pheons: These are spearheads. This can mean dexterity and nimble wit but it can also indicate readiness for battle. Dexterity would suggest a handy or talented person where readiness for battle would have military implications. Since William of Salisbury was not a military man, I would interpret this symbol to mean dexterity. Nimble wit could imply something about his sense of humor as well.

Chief: Top one-third of the shield; signifies dominion and authority; often granted as a special reward for prudence and wisdom or successful command in war. Again, for this Swayne COA, I would avoid any military implications.

Gules: Gules is the color red. The color red is used to indicate a warrior or martyr; military strength or magnanimity. Since magnanimity suggests nobility, I would use that interpretation of the color.

Maiden: A maiden (virgin) denotes purity and redemption and virtuousness. It is said that only a young maiden could capture the Unicorn as it was attracted to chastity and purity, so the noble huntsmen would take a maiden with them when hunting this shy and wild creature. The unicorn would approach a maiden and rest it's head in the lap of a maiden and the hunters could catch the unicorn. In Norse Mythology, there is a beautiful lady known as a Swan-Maiden. The Swan-Maiden wears a feathered dress. When the Swan-Maiden takes off her dress to go skinny-dipping in limpid (transparent) pools, a man must steal her Swan dress and the woman will go home with him and marry him. However, if the woman finds her swan dress, she may fly away. Also, there are stories of maidens used as protection against violence in villages and other stories of maidens used as sacrifices. Finally, SWAYNE, SWAIN, and SWAN are all names that can be commonly derived from the Scandinavian name Sven. The swan connections with maidens may explain why the maiden was chosen by William Swayne of Salisbury due to the common Scandinavian derivative with the name SWAN.

Arms: Azure, a chevron between three pheons or, on a chief gules, as many maidens' heads couped proper, crined of the second. Crest: A maiden's head couped proper, crined or, between two wings expanded of the last.

Definition
Azure: Azure is the color blue. The color blue is typically associated with truth and loyalty.

Chevron: A chevron in heraldry is one of nine recognized designs of lines on the shield. These designs are called Ordinaries. A chevron can mean protection but it can also mean builders or others who have accomplished some work of faithful service. Given the fact that William of Salisbury was rich and he funded the construction of the Lady Chapel at Saint Thomas' Church, I would lean toward the latter explanation.

Maiden: A maiden (virgin) denotes purity and redemption and virtuousness. It is said that only a young maiden could capture the Unicorn as it was attracted to chastity and purity, so the noble huntsmen would take a maiden with them when hunting this shy and wild creature. The unicorn would approach a maiden and rest it's head in the lap of a maiden and the hunters could catch the unicorn. There is one mythical tale in which the Maiden was said to be capable of being transformed into a swan. Furthermore, the crest of this maiden has wings; perhaps denoting those tales of transformation into the swan. In Norse Mythology, there is a beautiful lady known as a Swan-Maiden. The Swan-Maiden wears a feathered dress. When the Swan-Maiden takes off her dress to go skinny-dipping in limpid (transparent) pools, a man must steal her Swan dress and the woman will go home with him and marry him. However, if the woman finds her swan dress, she may fly away. Also, there are stories of maidens used as protection against violence in villages and other stories of maidens used as sacrifices. Finally, SWAYNE, SWAIN, and SWAN are all names that can be commonly derived from the Scandinavian name Sven. The swan connections with maidens may explain why the maiden was chosen by William Swayne of Salisbury due to the common Scandinavian derivative with
the name SWAN.

Couped: This is a term used when the head or limb of an animal or any other charge is cut off by an even line.

Proper:             This term is used for objects when shown in their natural colors]

Crined:             Crined is used to describe the beard or hair when different in color from the body.

Wings:             Swiftness and protection.

Arms: Azure, a chevron between three pheons or, on a chief argent, as many roses gules, seeded of the second, barbed vert. Crest: A demi dragon supporting an arrow argent, armed or.

Azure: Azure is the color blue. The color blue is typically associated with truth and loyalty.

Chevron: A chevron can mean protection but it can also mean builders or others who have accomplished some work of faithful service.

Chief: Top one-third of the shield; signifies dominion and authority; often granted as a special reward for prudence and wisdom or successful command in war.

Seeded: The term seeded is used of the seeds of roses, lilies etc when of a different color from the flower itself

Barbed: The word barbed (from the French word borbe) indicates that the leaves are surrounding a full-blown rose which are called barbs, hence the phrase 'a rose gu. barbed etc'

Demi-dragon: Half of a dragon. It means valiant defender of treasure; valor and protection. Dragons have been referenced in mythical tales, books, and movies for years. In most tales, they are feared creatures capable of breathing fire and few creatures (mythical or not) are able to defeat them.

Armed: The term armed is used to describe all birds of prey whose talons and beaks are colored differently from their bodies, also quadrupeds so variegated

Arms: Per chevron Azure and Or three Pheons counterchanged on a Chief engrailed Argent three Maiden Heads couped proper crined Or.

Crest: A Maiden Head as in the arms between two Wings Or each charged with a Cross crosslet Azure.

Per: Used to show how a shield, ordinary or charge is divided by any of the partition lines, as per bend, per pale etc

Azure: Azure is the color blue. The color blue is typically associated with truth and loyalty.

Chevron: A division of a shield shaped like the lower half of an 'X' and occupying one third or one fifth of the area, according to whether it is charged or not. A chevron can mean protection but it can also mean builders or others who have accomplished some work of faithful service.

Counterchanged: Used of a field divided by a bend or other ordinary in which the charges in each section are of the colour or metal of the field of the other section

Chief: Top one-third of the shield; signifies dominion and authority; often granted as a special reward for prudence and wisdom or successful command in war.

Engrailed: A scalloped partition line with the spikes outwards. Meaning earth or land.

Maiden: A maiden (virgin) denotes purity and redemption and virtuousness. It is said that only a young maiden could capture the Unicorn as it was attracted to chastity and purity, so the noble huntsmen would take a maiden with them when hunting this shy and wild creature. The unicorn would approach a maiden and rest it's head in the lap of a maiden and the hunters could catch the unicorn. There is one mythical tale in which the Maiden was said to be capable of being transformed into a swan. Furthermore, the crest of this maiden has wings; perhaps denoting those tales of transformation into the swan. In Norse Mythology, there is a beautiful lady known as a Swan-Maiden. The Swan-Maiden wears a feathered dress. When the Swan-Maiden takes off her dress to go skinny-dipping in limpid (transparent) pools, a man must steal her Swan dress and the woman will go home with him and marry him. However, if the woman finds her swan dress, she may fly away. Also, there are stories of maidens used as protection against violence in villages and other stories of maidens used as sacrifices. Finally, SWAYNE, SWAIN, and SWAN are all names that can be commonly derived from the Scandinavian name Sven. The swan connections with maidens may explain why the maiden was chosen by William Swayne of Salisbury due to the common Scandinavian derivative with the name SWAN.

Couped: This is a term used when the head or limb of an animal or any other charge is cut off by an even line.\

Crined: Crined is used to describe the beard or hair when different in color from the body.

Arms: Azure a Chevron between three Pheons Or on a Chief Argent three Roses Gules barbed and seeded proper.
Crest: A demi Dragon Azure holding in the dexter forefoot an Arrow in bend sinister point downwards Argent and resting the sinister forefoot on a Rose Gules barbed and seeded proper.
Motto: METUENDA COROLLA DRACONIS ('Fear the dragon's crest')

Azure: Azure is the color blue. The color blue is typically associated with truth and loyalty.

Chief: Top one-third of the shield; signifies dominion and authority; often granted as a special reward for prudence and wisdom or successful command in war.

Seeded: The term seeded is used of the seeds of roses, lilies etc when of a different color from the flower itself

Barbed: The word barbed (from the French word borbe) indicates that the leaves are surrounding a full-blown rose which are called barbs, hence the phrase 'a rose gu. barbed etc'

Arms: Azure a Chevron between three Pheons Or on a Chief Argent three Maiden Heads proper crined Or.
Crest: In front of a Maiden Head as in the arms two Pheons Gules.
Motto: CORDI DAT ROBORA VIRTUS ('Virtue strengthens the heart')

Definition
Azure: Azure is the color blue. The color blue is typically associated with truth and loyalty.

Chevron: A chevron in heraldry is one of nine recognized designs of lines on the shield. These designs are called Ordinaries. A chevron can mean protection but it can also mean builders or others who have accomplished some work of faithful service. Given the fact that William of Salisbury was rich and he funded the construction of The Lady Chapel at Saint Thomas's Church, I would lean toward the latter explanation.

Maiden: A maiden (virgin) denotes purity and redemption and virtuousness. It is said that only a young maiden could capture the Unicorn as it was attracted to chastity and purity, so the noble huntsmen would take a maiden with them when hunting this shy and wild creature. The unicorn would approach a maiden and rest it's head in the lap of a maiden and the hunters could catch the unicorn. There is one mythical tale in which the Maiden was said to be capable of being transformed into a swan. Furthermore, the crest of this maiden has wings; perhaps denoting those tales of transformation into the swan. In Norse Mythology, there is a beautiful lady known as a Swan-Maiden. The Swan-Maiden wears a feathered dress. When the Swan-Maiden takes off her dress to go skinny-dipping in limpid (transparent) pools, a man must steal her Swan dress and the woman will go home with him and marry him. However, if the woman finds her swan dress, she may fly away. Also, there are stories of maidens used as protection against violence in villages and other stories of maidens used as sacrifices. Finally, SWAYNE, SWAIN, and SWAN are all names that can be commonly derived from the Scandinavian name Sven. The swan connections with maidens may explain why the maiden was chosen by William Swayne of Salisbury due to the common Scandinavian derivative with the name SWAN.

Couped: This is a term used when the head or limb of an animal or any other charge is cut off by an even line.

Crined: Crined is used to describe the beard or hair when different in color from the body.

Arms: Ermine a Boar�s Head affronty Azure langued and tusked Gules within a Bordure semy of Bezants on a Chief over all Azure three Stirrups with their leathers Or.
Crest: The Battlements of a Tower thereon a Riding Crop and rising therefrom a Falcon belled and jessed affronty all proper.
Motto: FORWARD ALWAYS FORWARD

Boar�s Head: Boars are supposed to symbolize hospitality. However, boars are fierce creatures that fight to the death. Boars can be also be a symbol of military strength. Given the Battlement Tower and Falcon crest on this COA, I would lean towards a military interpretation for the boar�s head symbol.

Azure: Azure is the color blue. The color blue is typically associated with truth and loyalty.

Bezants: A Byzantine gold coin, represented as around flat piece of gold without impress. Means worthy of trust of treasure.

Chief: Top one-third of the shield; signifies dominion and authority; often granted as a special reward for prudence and wisdom or successful command in war.