Animals get all the heraldic glory. Unicorns! Griffins! Lions with fabulous manes! But what about the people?
Behind the beasts and colors is a quieter cast of characters: monks, saints, builders, fools, wild men, and even severed heads wearing crowns. These human figures might not breathe fire, but they have just as much of a story to tell.
Whether it’s a saint’s head on a plate or a knight suited up for battle, every figure on a coat of arms has something to say.
Brief History of Human Figures in Heraldry
In early heraldry, around the 12th century, full human figures were rare. Instead, you'd find individual body parts: heads, hands, or arms floating mysteriously on shields like the medieval version of a logo.
But by the 14th century, full-bodied human figures began appearing. Most were shown in a classic pose called “statant affront,” which means standing still and facing forward. Even if their heads turned slightly, their torsos stayed facing the viewer. It gave them an iconic, powerful presence on the shield.
Faces and people on family crests symbolize virtues like bravery, humility, faith, knowledge, and even unique jobs people have had throughout history.
The Most Common Human Figures in Heraldry (and What They Mean)
Knights and Armed Men
Think of knights as the influencers of the medieval world, representing nobility, heroism, and dressing up in full-body armor. In heraldry, they’re often shown “armed cap-à-pie,” which means suited up in metal from head to toe.
Sometimes they’re riding into battle on horseback, holding a sword or a lance, symbolizing bravery, military honor, and service to a king or country.
Their appearance in a family crest often reflected a real ancestor’s military career.
Maiden in Her Modesty
This maiden is a famous female figure in heraldry, usually shown covering herself with one arm. This symbolizes purity and innocence.
You might find this figure on the arms of families who wanted to emphasize their moral values, religious devotion, or connection to virtuous women in their family line.
Monks, Nuns, and Saints
Faith was a big deal in the medieval world, and it shows in coats of arms. You’ll find:
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Monks in robes, like on the arms of Mönchen (which means "monks").
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Nuns wearing veils.
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Saints’ heads are often shown as severed but surrounded by a halo.
These figures represent religious devotion, spiritual leadership, or a family's connection to a church, monastery, or saint.
One example: the Tallow Chandlers (a candle-making guild) used St. John the Baptist’s head on a plate in their crest, symbolizing light, truth, and faith.
Builders, Miners, and Fools
In some crests, you’ll find people simply doing their jobs. Why? Because family identity often comes from work.
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The arms of Pawr von Stain feature a builder with tools, likely honoring a career in construction or architecture.
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The Mines Royal Company (founded in 1568) used the figure of a miner, holding tools like hammers and compasses, to proudly show its industry.
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The Narringer family included a fool or jester (the word Narr means “fool” in German), possibly honoring an ancestor who made people laugh or poking fun at themselves.
Wild and “Sauvage” Men
Some heraldic figures are, well… wild. Literally. The “wild man,” or savage, or sauvage (yes, the Dior one) is usually shown as a strong, bearded guy with wild hair and a wooden club.
This guy represents raw strength, independence, and a connection to nature. He may look like a wild cousin of Bigfoot, but he’s actually one of the oldest and most powerful human symbols in heraldry.
Kings, Queens, and Crowned Heads
You’ll also spot royal folks (sometimes just their heads) wearing crowns and looking very important. These crowned heads (called “couped” if they’re cut cleanly at the neck) show up when a family wants to show off their noble connections or pretend they have them.
Children, Old Men, and Hermits
Other figures you might spot include:
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Children or young people: representing hope and innocence.
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Old men with beards: wisdom, tradition, and experience.
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Angels with wings: divine protection, especially in religious families. You can see this in the coat of arms of France.
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Hermits or scholars: love of knowledge, solitude, or spiritual learning.
Understanding Heads and Facial Heraldic Symbols
Coats of arms often include just the head of a person. These aren’t always creepy (okay, sometimes they are), but they definitely have meaning.
Here’s how they’re usually described:
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Cabossed - Just the face, no neck or back of the head. Like a medieval headshot.
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Couped - The head is cut cleanly at the neck.
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Erased - The head looks torn off, with a ragged edge on the neck.
Some heads also include ethnic or regional identity:
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Moors’ heads (referenced battles during the Reconquista), Turks’ heads (reflected the conflicts between Christian Europe and the Ottoman Empire), Saxons’ heads (referencing earlier tribal wars) often referring to historical events, battles, or alliances.
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Saints’ heads symbolized faith and religious heritage.
Are the Figures in Your Family Crest Real People or Just Symbols?
Short answer: Mostly symbolic, but with a few exceptions.
These figures were rarely portraits of actual ancestors (though it’s a cool idea). Instead, they were visual metaphors—like emojis today.
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A knight might symbolize bravery, not a specific knight.
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A nun might reflect faith, not your great-great-aunt.
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But a saint, like St. John or St. George, might be included as a real religious figure.
Sometimes, a famous ancestor in a family would be honored with a figure or symbol, but that would be clearly described in the blazon (the official description of a coat of arms).
Curious who made it onto yours? Our team can help you find your family crest.
Posture, Expression, and Accessories of Human Figures in Heraldry
These little extras matter:
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Facing front (affronty): Represents truthfulness and honesty.
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Facing dexter (right): Traditional default unless stated otherwise.
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Crowns, halos, helmets, armor: Can tell you about status and role.
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Facial expressions: Calm = self-control, Fierce = warrior spirit
Interpreting with Modern Eyes
Some heraldic figures don’t age well.
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Moors’ or Turks’ heads were used to reference historical wars, but today, they may raise questions of cultural sensitivity.
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Wild men symbols might seem silly now, but these symbols once stood for raw freedom and survival.
Modern heraldry continues but often avoids outdated symbols, choosing instead to honor history while staying inclusive.
People Behind the Crest
The next time you spot a monk, fool, or fierce warrior on a crest, don’t scroll past. Look closer. If you spot an unusual human figure on your family crest, it’s basically a little time capsule waiting to be discovered by finding your family crest.
Image Credits:
Coat of arms of Guarulhos via Wikimedia Commons, source
Coat of arms of Nyborg via Wikimedia Commons, source
Coat of arms of Laurentius Suurpää, Bishop of Turku in 1500–1506 via Wikimedia Commons, source
Shield of Arms of Huesca Province via Wikimedia Commons, source
