Coat of Arms Symbols and Their Meanings (Free Printable)

Looking for some cool coat of arms symbols? This printable coat of arms symbols chart is a perfect companion to your homeschool medieval unit or family crest activity. Featuring 30 common coat of arms symbols, each with a clean design and simple explanation, it’s a great way to teach kids about the meaning behind medieval heraldry and help them choose meaningful icons for their own custom shield design. Whether you’re building a family coat of arms or diving into a history lesson, this chart makes learning fun, visual, and easy to apply.

If you’re exploring knights, castles, or heraldry in your homeschool or classroom, understanding the meaning behind coat of arms symbols adds so much richness to the experience. This printable gives kids a chance to see—and connect with—common heraldic icons like the lion (bravery), the tree (family roots), or the bee (teamwork).

With this set, kids will not only learn what symbols appeared on medieval coats of arms, but they’ll begin to grasp why—and how those symbols told a personal story. You can use this as a standalone heraldry symbols activity or pair it with our Coat of Arms Activity Pack to help kids create a meaningful family crest of their own.

We’ve also got blank coat of arms templates if you’d like to try out your symbols in a fun project of your own.

🖍️ Materials

• 🖍️ Materials
• Printed coat of arms symbols chart (download below)
• Markers, colored pencils, or crayons
• Shield or crest template (recommended for paired activity)
• Scissors & glue stick (for cut-and-paste activities)
• Lapbook folder (optional for long-term reference)
• Writing paper or journal for reflection prompts

🏰 The Printable

This printable includes three versatile pages to fit a variety of activities and age groups:

1. Page 1: Symbols + Names + Meanings
   Each icon is labeled with a name and a short, kid-friendly meaning. This version is perfect for reference during discussion, lessons, or when choosing symbols for a personal coat of arms.
2. Page 2: Symbols + Names (No Meanings)
   Ideal for classroom games, symbol guessing challenges, and matching worksheets. Kids can test what they’ve learned or write the meanings themselves.
3. Page 3: Icons Only (No Text)
   This blank version is great for cut-and-paste activities or letting students draw connections before introducing meanings. Also excellent for visual sorting or lapbook inclusion.

Each page is cleanly laid out on 8.5″ x 11″ paper with bold, easy-to-color outlines—perfect for younger students or independent work.

✏️This printable is great for:

• Coat of arms lesson plans
• Family crest projects
• Heraldry unit studies
• Medieval art and symbolism worksheets
• Homeschool printable activities

🦁Coat of Arms Symbols and Their Meanings

Here are the most common coat of arms symbols and their meanings that we incorporated into our printable.

• Lion – Bravery, courage, strength
• Eagle – Freedom, keen vision, leadership
• Dragon – Protection, power, fierceness
• Oak Tree – Strength, family roots, endurance
• Star – Guidance, lofty goals, honor
• Crossed Swords – Defense, military strength, readiness
• Bear – Strength, courage, protection
• Horse – Speed, loyalty, bravery
• Unicorn – Purity, bravery, magic
• Crescent Moon – Growth, new beginnings, hope
• Dove – Peace, harmony, kindness
• Boar – Fierce courage, resilience
• Bee – Hard work, community, teamwork
• Stag (Deer) – Grace, peace, harmony
• Anchor – Hope, stability, safety
• Scallop Shell – Adventure, pilgrimage, travel
• Castle – Strength, safety, protection
• Wolf – Loyalty, strength, family devotion
• Key – Knowledge, guardianship, trustworthiness
• Rose – Grace, beauty, love
• Laurel Leaves – Victory, achievement, honor
• Elephant – Wisdom, memory, strength
• Swan – Grace, loyalty, poetic spirit
• Waves – Travel, adventure, overcoming challenges
• Fleur-de-lis – Purity, royalty, honor
• Sun – Glory, brilliance, life
• Wheat Sheaf – Prosperity, abundance, success
• Arrow – Readiness, swift action, protection
• Serpent – Wisdom, renewal, protection
• Owl – Wisdom, keen perception, knowledge

📝 How to Use

1. Choose the version that suits your activity. Use Page 1 as a teaching reference, or hand out Page 2 or 3 for activities and challenges.
2. Introduce the concept of heraldry and symbolism. Discuss how knights, noble families, and even cities used symbols to tell their stories.
3. Review and discuss the most common coat of arms symbols. Have students guess the meanings before revealing them.
4. Have each student pick 3–5 symbols that represent them or their family values.
5. Create a family crest or personal shield design using their chosen symbols.
6. Extend the activity with writing prompts, presentations, or historical research.

💡 Educational Uses & Tips

This chart isn’t just a printable—it’s a multi-subject teaching tool that blends art, history, social studies, vocabulary, writing, and even math.

🔎 Symbol Meaning Match-Up

• Use Pages 2 and 3 to create a symbol-and-meaning matching game. Kids cut out the icons and match them to written meanings.
• Bonus: Let students create their own incorrect matches first, then compare to the real answers for a twist of humor and deeper learning.

✏️ Creative Writing Prompt

• Prompt: “Which 3 symbols would you put on your family crest and why?”
• Older students can write short stories where their crest is part of a knight’s identity or quest.

🖌️ Art & Design Integration

• Use the symbols to inspire color-themed artwork, stained glass window projects, or watercolor shield designs.
• Encourage students to think about color symbolism (e.g., red = bravery, gold = generosity) as they design.

🧠 Memory & Recall Challenge

• Use Page 3 for a “Guess That Symbol!” game. Show the icon, and students guess the name or meaning.

🗣️ Presentation Practice

• Have each child present their chosen symbols in a “Herald’s Announcement” voice:
  “Behold! Lady Ava of House Oak, whose rising sun symbolizes joy and wisdom!”

🧭 Cross-Curricular Integration

🏡 Home Use Ideas

• Use the symbol chart as a dinner table conversation starter: “What symbol best describes our family today?”
• Create a “Family Crest Wall” with every member’s design and motto.
• Pair with our middle ages coloring pages for a fun activity.

🖨️ Printing Tips

Paper Type:
Use standard printer paper for casual activities, or heavy cardstock (100–110 lb) if cutting or pasting symbols into a crest or lapbook.

Printer Settings:

The PDF comes with 3 pages in one download. If you only want one version follow the instructions below to save ink and paper.

• Open the PDF on your computer.
• Note the page numbers you want (e.g., Page 3 for cut-and-paste use).
• Go to your print dialog box.
• Enter the page numbers in the “Pages” field.
• Set to “High Quality” or “Best Print Mode.”
• Click Print, and you’re ready to go!

📥 Grab the Printable

Pop your name and email in the blue box below, and I’ll send the full 3-page Coat of Arms Symbols Printable Pack straight to your inbox. Perfect for homeschool, classroom, or co-op use.

Just a note: this printable is for personal or classroom use only—no commercial redistribution, please!

Want to reinforce vocabulary and spelling while sticking with the theme? Download our Middle Ages Vocabulary Worksheets, or add a bit of wordplay fun with our Middle Ages Crossword Puzzle. You can also grab our Middle Ages Word Search Pack for an easy printable that makes learning feel like a game.

This printable coat of arms symbols chart turns a simple history lesson into a personal and meaningful learning experience. Whether you’re exploring family crest symbols and meanings, working on a medieval lapbook, or simply looking for a fun writing prompt, this activity brings together creativity, culture, and critical thinking.

Your kids will love choosing the symbols that speak to them—and you’ll love watching their stories unfold.