Swords & Spears: What Weapon Symbols Say About Your Ancestors

Nothing says, “Don’t mess with us,” like slapping a weapon on your family crest. 

From spears to battle axes, weapon symbols on your coat of arms tell a story sharper than the weapons themselves. They could represent a family’s business, values, or name (yes, Shakespeare’s crest had an actual spear). 

Why Weapons Were on Family Crests

Sure, medieval folks were almost always at war, but weapons on a family crest weren’t just about flexing battlefield brutality.

They also told people what you did for a living or what values your family upheld. For example, if you were a blacksmith, it was typical to have a hammer on your coat of arms. And if you were a noble knight, a sword on your crest would perfectly match a knight’s chivalrous and honorable nature. 

Heraldic Weapon Symbol Meanings

Weapons representing trade skills

These weapons are used by people with specific trades, like how a family business logo helps them become visible to their patrons. 

• Hammer - The hammer stood for family honor and hard-won success in trades that literally built society, like metalwork and carpentry. Families involved in craftsmanship, like the Norse blacksmith clans, drew on the myth of dwarves forging the Nordic God of Thunder Thor’s Mjölnir. 

• Cannon - The cannon icon marks someone who was either a skilled artilleryman who made cannons for battles or a survivor of cannon attacks. Either way, it takes skill (and agility) to have a cannon on your coat of arms. Families tied to the Napoleonic Wars or naval artillery, especially in France and Britain, feature cannons on their coat of arms. 

Weapons representing battle skills

• Arrow - The arrow points to the early family's readiness to face conflict head-on. Whether it’s battles, hardships, or whatever came flying their way. It stands as a testament to family members’ success and resilience during wars. Some families even went minimalist by using just the arrowhead!

•  Bow - Used as a deterrent, the bow represents those prepared to strike when provoked. It also represents vigilance and capability with force. Like the arrow, bows serve as a warning to enemies. 

• Helmet - Helmets or helms represented protection, unity, and family strength. The helmet is a symbol of the importance of standing together and having strong defenses against any threat. 

Weapons representing honor and leadership skills

• Arm in armor - Featuring an arm is a symbol of courage and strength for family members who served as leaders during wars and conflicts. 

• Dagger - The dagger stood for swift justice and unshakable strength. Families who have this symbol believe in standing up for what’s right and honorable. 

• Axe - The battle axe symbol was used to represent those early family members who held military authority and their reputation for handling tough responsibilities. 

• Sword - The sword is a symbol of courage and strength. It also signifies the importance of upholding the family's honor through honorable actions. 

• Spear - The spear symbolized chivalry, honor, and the whole noble-knight package. It often appeared on the crests of families who valued bravery and loyalty above all. Take William Shakespeare’s family crest, for example. It features a golden spear with a silver tip. Will may never have charged into battle, but his pen proved every bit as sharp.

Weapons representing peace 

• Broken Spear - While the spear itself represents honor in heraldry, the broken spear symbol is one that signifies peace. Weapons were often the tools to achieve peace by settling conflicts through wars. Families that have broken spears on their family crests often played roles in negotiating truces or ending conflicts.  

If you're unsure what weapons might’ve been included in your family crest, our team can help track it down, from looking up heraldic records to decoding every symbol. Finding your family crest can reveal hidden battle stories and ancestral values captured in every shield, sword, and symbol. 

How to Interpret Weapons on Your Coat of Arms

So now you’re staring at a battleaxe on your ancestor’s shield and thinking, “Cool, but… did they actually use one?”

Here’s how to dig into the story behind the symbol:

1. Check the Time Period

Coats of arms became popular in the 12th century, but not all symbols were actually created during wartime.

• Earlier arms (1100s–1400s): More likely to reflect real military service or noble duty.
  

• Later designs (1500s–1800s): Often added for symbolic reasons, especially as warfare became less personal and more bureaucratic.
  

For example, many Victorian-era families added swords to look noble, even if Grandpa’s greatest battle was with his accounting ledger.

2. Look at Your Family’s Job Title

Some crests were tied to actual professions:

• Cannons - Check the ancestor list for artillerymen.

• Hammer - Could be a blacksmith or a builder.

• Dagger - Maybe a judge, an executioner, or a personal guard.
  

Pro tip: Trace surnames too! Names like “Fletcher,” “Archer,” or “Swords” can literally hint at weaponry-based work.

3. Compare with Known Family Records

If you’ve got access to family documents, parish records, or wills, check for references to land granted for military service, roles in local militias, or “Sir” titles.

• No records? That axe might’ve just been decorative.

• Lots of references to battles, guard duty, or knighted relatives? That weapon symbol probably tells how your ancestors may have been swinging swords in wars!
  

4. Cross-Check with Regional Symbol Trends

Some symbols were just popular.

• Spears were everywhere in English and Scottish heraldry.

• Bows were trendy in Wales and Ireland.

• Cannons showed up mostly in the post-gunpowder era (1600s+).
  
  

What That Weapon Really Means

Not every sword, spear, or cannon on a coat of arms meant the family went charging into battle. Sure, many of these symbols reflected real honor, military service, or skilled craftsmanship. But sometimes? They were clever visual puns or nods to a family trade.

Think of it like medieval branding. Families were already personalizing their identities before logos were a thing!

So whether your family crest features a battleaxe or a bow, it could mean valor, a job well done, or just some classic wordplay. The only way to know for sure? Start digging and find your family crest! 

Image credits:

Nottingham Castle coat of arms via Pixabay, source

Battle of Poitiers from Froissart's Chronicles via Wikipedia, source 

Arms of Cornwall Council via Wikimedia Commons, source