Arms of Alcázar de San Juan, Spain

Granted 1992

Blazon: Azure on a base a triple-towered castle or windowed gules in the dexter; in the sinister a knight armored bearing in the dexter hand a lance proper and in the sinister hand a banner of the third a cross argent mounted on a horse salient of the last saddled, bridled, and caprisoned also proper

The knight is potentially a reference to the Knights Hospitaller, who took control of the town in 1189 – the banner matches their arms. The name of the town is probably derived from the Arabic “Al-kasar,” or “fortified castle.”

Advertisements

Arms of Ferrers and Chester

Arms of William de Ferrers, Earl of Derby 1199-1247 (c. 1168-1247) and Agnes of Chester (?-1247)

From p43 of Lacies Nobilitie by Sir John Ferne (1586)

Blazon: Per pale baron and femme; the first argent six horseshoes sable, the second azure three garbs or

There are several competing opinions on the “true” arms of the Ferrers family. The horseshoes shown here (or some variation thereof) are usually considered to be canting arms (for “farrier”), and different authorities will argue accordingly; if the source in question takes a dim view of canting arms, the blazon given is usually “vairy or and gules.” Ferne falls into the pro-horseshoe camp, arguing that the vairy was adopted by “Henry Earle Ferrers… for the affection which he bare to his wife and her family,” which makes the horseshoe coat “their most auntient Coate, and the signe and representation of theyr service done to their Soveraigne.” (67) He also touches on the canting arms debate, saying that “those families which beare Armes alluding to their names… are both honorable and auntient.” (68)

Arms of Breitenau, Austria

Granted 1990

Blazon: Per fess or vert and azure, three ears of wheat of the first surmounted by a four-spoked cogwheel sable

The wheat and cogwheel presumably refer to area industries (agriculture is still important in the area), but I cannot find any concrete information on their origins.

Arms of Albaladejo, Spain

Arms of Albaladejo, Spain

Granted 1995

Blazon: Or a bend vert between in chief a castle triple-towered and in base a cross of Santiago gules

An investigation begun in 1995 found that the city of Albaladejo had not previously used its own arms. The city subsequently adopted the arms shown here, with the castle symbolizing the ancient Roman fortress, and the cross of Santiago the local parish of St. James the Apostle. Given that the bend was used to represent the ancient road that gave the city its name (from the Arabic “albalá”, or “road”), these may be considered canting arms.

Arms of Sleaford Town Council, England

Granted 1950

Blazon: Gules on a chevron or three estoiles sable, on a chief argent as many trefoils slipped vert

Crest: On a wreath gules and or an eagle wings displayed and elevated and head downwards and to the sinister proper holding in the beak an ear of wheat stalked and leaved or

Mantling: Gules lined or

The arms in the primary part of the shield belong to the Carre family, who founded the local almshouse and grammar school, while the trefoils are from the arms of the Harveys. The eagle represents the town’s associations with the Royal Air Force, while the wheat represents local agriculture.

Arms of Fichtenau, Germany

Granted 1979

Blazon: Or issuant from a base wavy a pine tree vert, in sinister chief a buzzard’s head erased sable, armed gules

“Fichte” is German for “spruce,” making these canting arms. The base wavy is a reference to the numerous ponds in the area, and the buzzard to the local population of birds of prey.

Arms of the House of Barberini

In use since 1530?

Blazon: Azure three bees volant or

The House of Barberini was founded by Antonio Barberini, a Florentine merchant dealing in grain, wool, and textiles, in the mid-16th century, likely between 1530 and 1559. They are probably best known for Pope Urban VIII, formerly Maffeo Barberini, who was somewhat infamous for nepotism, and the Palazzo Barberini, which was finished by Bernini in 1633.

Before they rose to prominence, their surname was “Tafani” (horseflies), which were also allegedly the original charges in their arms.