Heraldic Titles from the Middle Ages and Renaissance: Standard Forms by Origin and Country

by Julia Smith

© 2008-2011 by Julia Smith. All rights reserved.
Version 2.6, updated 12 March 2011


Title Patterns by Rank and Location

The number of individuals with each rank varies somewhat by country; overall, over half (51%) the identified titles belong to pursuivants, 38% to heralds, and 11% to kings of arms. However, there are differences between regions. Scotland and England, unified before the age of heraldic titles, have relatively few kings of arms, while the several independent states found in the Iberian peninsula, the Low Countries, and Germany lead to a relatively greater number of kings of arms (18% of Iberian titles are kings of arms). Some of this may be due to differences in available data; I have been unable to find many German or Scandinavian titles, while a large number of English titles are easy to find.

One striking observation is that heraldic rank is not fixed. Several systems (English, French, and Spanish) have titles that appear with multiple ranks over time, giving the total by rank higher than the number of titles. In several cases, these reflect the changing whims of monarchs; in others, shifts in the importance of areas.

RankEnglishScotsFrenchIberianOtherTotal
King of Arms1813015872
Herald59131054132250
Pursuivant107221722710338
Totals184363078348660

Kings of Arms have interestingly diverse titles; this is presumably because many of their titles were created in the early days, before the standards for the creation of heraldic titles were clearly established. The English system makes this variability clear: Garter is derived from an order name, Clarenceux from a title (Clarence), and Norroy is an oddity, derived from a word meaning "northman" combined with (or just affected by) the French roy which also led to the surname Norreys. Other period English Kings of Arms (Agincourt, Anjou, Aquitaine, Gloucester, Guyene, Ireland, Lancaster, Leicester, March, Normandy, Richmond, and Ulster) seem to have been derived from placenames (mostly royal titles). The only exception is Falcon, which is derived from the charge in a badge, and seems to have originated as a pursuivant's title. The Scottish Lyon is derived from a charge as well.

French Kings of Arms are also diverse. The title for the principal King of Arms is derived from the royal motto or warcry, Montjoy. Other kings of arms are named after orders, such as Toison d'Or or Ermine, while others are named after regions, such as Berry or Champagne. It is worth noting that, unlike England, France was not well unified in the Middle Ages. Many of these Kings of Arms, then, originated in the service of the Dukes who functioned as independent monarchs (in Brittany, Burgundy, etc.) rather than functioning as subordinate kings of arms in a unified France.

Spanish Kings of Arms are named after the kingdoms in which they were the chief heraldic officer; examples include Castilla, Aragon, and Navarra. The same is true of Portugal, where Portugal is the main King of Arms, and of Scandinavian countries. Dutch King of Arms titles are locative, including Brabant and Hainault, though the logic of labeling individuals as kings of arms instead of heralds is unclear to me here. The German King of Arms titles are also locative in origin; some are straightforward locatives, such as Preußen (Prussia), while the most famous, Romreich (essentially "Roman realm") is more complex.

Heralds have much more uniform titles, with the vast majority of titles derived from locations, whether titles, cities, or surnames that are locative in nature. In England, over 90% of heralds (by rank) have titles derived from locations: titles (mostly noble) account for half, while other locations account for the remainders. In Scotland, all herald's titles are derived from royal duchies, castles owned by the Crown, and similar locations.

In France, heralds are named after both regions (Picardy, Languedoc) and cities (Toulouse, Orleans). However, there seems to be a preference for regions. Whether these titles based on regions originate from heralds serving the nobles who ruled over these areas or not is not known at this time, but it seems likely.

In the Iberian pensinsula, herald's titles are largely derived from cities (Granada, Trastamara, Lisboa, Constantinople), though there are examples of larger regions as well (Cataluña, Peñafiel, Austurias). Some, such as the aforementioned Peñafiel, are derived from royal titles (it was a royal duchy in Aragon), while others are simply locations within the kingdom. There are some fifteenth century herald's titles in Spain that appear to originate as mottos/desirable traits: Conquista (conquest) and Avanguarda (vanguard). It's hard to say a great deal about German titles by rank, as some authors use herald for both heralds and pursuivants. Thus, my classifications may have errors. However, locative titles dominate, though all sorts are found.

The pattern of Pursuivants' titles seems to depend on the origin of the pursuivant, at least in England. Those who serve nobles, rather than the king, tend to have locative titles, derived either from the primary title of a lesser noble (who would only rate a pursuivant) or from the lesser titles of a greater noble (who would normally have both a herald and subordinate pursuivants). Those who served the king tended to have titles derived from charges and mottos/desirable traits. There are counterexamples: Il Faut Fair was the title of John Falstaff's personal pursuivant.

In Scotland, royal pursuivants tend to have locative titles (mostly derived from royal possessions, such as Carrick, Dingwall, and Kintyre), though there is one title derived from a charge (Unicorn). Most private pursuivants' titles (Slains, Finlaggin, Garioch) are derived from locations, but one, Endure Pursuivant, is surely a motto/desirable trait.

French pursuivants' titles are similarly mixed, with many derived from placenames, but also a substantial number derived from mottos/desirable traits: Joli-Couer (happy heart), Loyauté (loyalty), Doulce Pensée (sweet thoughts), and Dis-le-Vrai (speak the truth). One interesting thing is the substantial number of these derived from phrases rather than single words.

Iberian pursuivants' titles are a mixed bag. Some follow the locative pattern, referring to smaller and less signicant locations than the titles of heralds and kings of arms (Cintra, Fonterrabia, Malinas). Others follow the motto/desirable trait pattern: Desiros (desirous), Veritat (truthfulness), Paine por joie (pain for joy). One (Banda) even follows the order name pattern. There are relatively few pursuivants' titles in Iberia compared to other ranks; it's not clear if this represents a difference in structure or is simply an artifact of the data available.

We still know little about heraldic titles in Germany and the Low Countries. The few titles we have are mostly locative in nature: Romreich, Luxembourg, Gelre, Beyren. However, there are examples of titles derived from mottos, charges, and titles or terms of address (Kayser and Burggraf). I have identified five Scandanavian titles: all I have been able to locate are locative and are derived from the names of large regions. However, this sample is not large enough to draw any conclusions.

This study, then, offers the tools necessary to construct heraldic titles appropriate for a variety of places around Europe. Below is a complete list of the heraldic titles I was able to identify in their standardized forms. Most of these are suitable in spelling for at least the latter part of our period.


Heraldic Titles Derived from Locations

Locative heraldic titles have several independent origins. Many are derived from titles of nobility. Heralds who work for nobles rather than the crown often follow this pattern: Huntingdon Herald serves the Earl of Huntingdon while the Bar Herald serves the Duke of Bar. Royal titles, especially royal duchies, are an important source of herald's titles in England and Scotland: examples include Albany Herald in Scotland and Lancaster Herald in England. French titles include Berry Herald, Bourgogne (Burgundy) Herald, and Foix Herald. In Spain, the names of kingdoms, including kingdoms that had long since ceased to exist, are used as heraldic titles: Navarra, Castilla, and Aragon are all titles for Kings of Arms, while Asturias is a herald's title. German and titles include both regions and cities: Brandenburg Herald, Luxembourg Herald, Preußen King of Arms, and Beyeren Herald.

However, other heraldic titles are derived from locations that are not associated with noble titles. These include the names of both cities and regions. In England, such titles include Dublin Herald, Agincourt Herald, and Bordeaux Herald. In France, titles such as Languedoc Herald and Saintonge Herald follow this pattern. In Spain, Pamplona Herald, Toledo Herald, and Jerusalem Herald appear, while in Portugal, titles like Ceuta Herald, Lisboa Herald, and Algarve Herald are found. One must remember that medieval overlords often controlled areas that are not in the equivalent modern countries: thus Bethune, in northern France, is used as a Spanish title, because it was a Hapsburg possession. However, some titles are clearly not real claims: Portugal has a Constantinople Herald, while a German herald was known as Jerusalem.

Finally, a group of titles are derived from surnames, most of which are locative in nature; this is only clearly found in England, where knights who had no noble domains from which to derive a surname were allowed pursuivants. However, in France as well, family names are current possessions sometimes drift apart over time. Examples taken from surnames include Claveley Herald, Chandos Herald, and Mowbray Herald. There are a few heraldic titles derived from non-locative surnames in England; examples include Talbot Herald, Bardolph Herald, and Fitzwalter Pursuivant. There are a few examples from elsewhere of what may be non-locative surnames (the German Suchenwirt Herald, the French Toutain le Gras Pursuivant, and the Scottish Jop Herald), though it is possible that some of these are bynames rather than heraldic titles. The predominance of locative titles may simply reflect patterns for the formation of noble family names, which generally are derived from the lands over which the family ruled.

Locative titles are, as stated above, nearly 64% of heraldic titles identified. They are slightly less common than this in England (where they account for around 55% of titles), and are far more common in Scotland, where 83% of titles follow this pattern. In Iberia, all Portuguese titles I have identified follow this pattern, while somewhat under 70% of Spanish titles follow this pattern. This pattern is rather underutilized in the Society.

Locative:


Heraldic Titles Derived from Mottos/Desirable Traits

The second origin of heraldic titles is from descriptive terms and phrases: loyal, diligent, tell the truth. These seem to have two distinct origins: some are taken from the mottos of the lords for whom the herald worked, while others seem to be generic "desirable characteristics." Examples that are clearly derived from mottoes include Ich Dien Pursuivant, Il Faut Faire Pursuivant, and the French Montjoy King of Arms. Examples that do not seem to have been taken from mottos include Desirous Pursuivant, Secret Pursuivant, and the French Dis-le-Vrai Pursuivant. In England and France, there are many examples of this pattern, both as single words and as phrases. There are two examples from Scotland (Diligens and Endure), and half a dozen examples from fifteenth century Spain, such as Paine por joie and Veritat, both pursuivants, and Avanguarda, a herald. The Dutch Leal Pursuivant and German Zyt vor zyt Herald demonstrate its use elsewhere. This type of title is mainly used for pursuivants, though there are continental examples of them for all levels. Across Europe, 14.5% of titles are derived from mottos. They are most common in France, where over 17% of titles take this form, and least common in Scots, where less than 6% of titles take this form. In all areas, both single word and multi-word titles are found (except for Scandanavia, in which no examples have been found to date).

Mottos/Desirable Traits:


Heraldic Titles Derived from Heraldic Charges

The next most common pattern for heraldic titles is charges. While there are examples of this in most countries (though not to date in the Low Countries or Scandanavia), this pattern is most frequently found in the titles of English pursuivants. In England, this pattern is more common than motto names. The majority of examples are single words: Falcon Pursuivant/Herald/King of Arms, Unicorn Herald, Fuzil Pursuivant, and Frechas (arrows) Pursuivant. Some English examples combine a charge with a color, though the color is the normal word (usually in French) rather than the heraldic tincture: Blanch Lyon Pursuivant, Rouge Croix Pursuivant, Noir Taureau Pursuivant. Sometimes the tincture comes second: Leon d'Or Pursuivant, Rose Blanche Pursuivant and Eagle Vert Pursuivant (note that vert is the French word for green). There are two French language examples of charge and color combinations from outside of England (Blanc Levrier from Navarra and Blanche and Bleu Levrier from France); Toison d'Or is added if we consider order names derived from charges. There are no examples of multi-word descriptions of charges that do not include French (or Anglo-French). While this patterns is relatively common in England, accounting for 15% of titles, they are uncommon elsewhere: 6% in Scotland; under 5% in France and Iberia, and only one example from Germany (none from the Low Countries or Scandanavia).

Heraldic Charges:


Heraldic Titles Derived from Order Names

The names of important orders came into use as the titles of English and French Kings of Arms relatively early: Garter King of Arms (England), Ermine King of Arms (Brittany), Toison d'Or King of Arms (Burgundy). Later, the Spanish Banda Pursuivant, derived from the order name, came into use. However, this was never a common pattern, in part because the number of orders was not very large, and limited to the great princes of Europe. Other titles were related to orders without being derived from order names: the English Bluemantle and Collar Pursuivants were based on order regalia, and the German Eisvogl (kingfisher) Herald comes from the badge of the Bohemian Company of the Towel.

Order Names:


Other Heraldic Titles

There remain titles that do not fit neatly into any of these categories. Some are simply unclear in origin, often because we know little about who the herald was or whom they served. However, two English heraldic titles are based on items of regalia: Bluemantle Pursuivant and Collar Pursuivant. Two titles are derived from the names of plants (Dragance 'dragonwort' and Romarin 'rosemary'). Two odd early titles are derived from locations but are not locations themselves: the English Norroy 'king of the northmen' and the German Romreich 'Roman realm' (for the Holy Roman Empire). The first reflects a style of title which appears early and then largely disappears: kings of arms described as the King of Arms of a group of people (des Anglois, 'of the English,' for example). While these sorts of descriptions mostly disappear before 1400, and never seem to have functioned as titles as such, examples such as Norroy and Ruyers retain some of this characteristic.

Other Heraldic Titles:


Titles of Unclear Origin

Some heraldic titles are unclear in origin. They may have several possible origins that cannot be distinguished or the origin may be completely opaque. If anyone has any further information about the origin and meaning of these titles, I'd like you to contact me.

Titles of Unclear Origin:


English Titles: French Titles: Scottish Titles:
 
Iberian Titles:
 
German/Dutch Titles:
(see French for additional Dutch titles)
Scandinavian Titles:
 


 

Heraldic Titles Derived from Locations

 

Locative: English Titles

Agincourt King of Arms
Anjou King of Arms
Aquitaine King of Arms
Athlone Herald or Pursuivant
Barnes Pursuivant
Bedford Herald
Bellesme Pursuivant
Berwick Pursuivant
Beul Pursuivant
Blanquefort Pursuivant
Bordeaux Herald
Boulogne Pursuivant
Broke Pursuivant
Buckingham Herald
Calais Pursuivant
Calveley Herald
Cambridge Herald
Candalle Herald
Carlisle Herald
Chandos Herald or King of Arms
Chasteaubleu Pursuivant
Chester Herald
Clarence Herald
Clarenceux King of Arms
Conde Pursuivant
Conk Pursuivant
Cornwall Herald
Derby Herald
Derval Herald
Dorset Herald
Dublin Herald or Pursuivant
Ettrick Pursuivant
Exeter Herald
Gloucester King of Arms
Groby Herald or Pursuivant
Guisnes Pursuivant
Guyenne King of Arms or Herald or Pursuivant
Guyenne and Aquitaine King of Arms
Hampnes Pursuivant
Harington Pursuivant
Hastings Pursuivant
Hereford Herald
Huntingdon Herald
Ireland Herald or King of Arms
Kildare Pursuivant
Lancaster Herald or King of Arms
Leicester Herald or King of Arms
Lisle Pursuivant
Longchamp Pursuivant
Louvre Pursuivant
Loveyn Pursuivant
Maine Herald
Maltravers Herald
Marenceux Pursuivant
Marleon de Aye Pursuivant
Monceux Pursuivant
Monfort Pursuivant
Montagu Pursuivant
Montorgueil Herald
Mortain Herald
Mowbray Herald
Nazers Herald
Newhaven Pursuivant
Nogent Pursuivant
Norfolk Herald
Northampton Herald
Northumberland Herald
Nottingham Herald
Nucells Pursuivant
Pembroke Herald
Percy Herald
Portsmouth Pursuivant
Richmond Herald
Risebank Pursuivant
Rivers Herald
Rutland Herald
Salisbury Herald
Scales Pursuivant
Serreshall Pursuivant
Shrewsbury Herald or Pursuivant
Somerset Herald
Stafford Herald
Suffolk Herald
Thury Pursuivant
Torrington Pursuivant
Ulster King of Arms
Villebon Pursuivant
Wales Herald
Wallingford Pursuivant
Wark Pursuivant
Warwick Herald
Wexford Pursuivant
Windsor Herald
Worcester Herald
York Herald
 

Locative: French Titles

Albany Herald
Alençon Herald
Alsace Herald
Angeleme Herald
Anjou King of Arms
Annel Pursuivant
Anthune Pursuivant
Artois Herald or King of Arms
Aumale Pursuivant
Auray Pursuivant
Auvergne Herald
Bar Pursuivant or Herald
Barbançon Herald
Baugé Pursuivant
Béarn Herald
Beaumont Pursuivant
Beaurevoir Herald
Beauvais Pursuivant
Berry King of Arms
Bethisy Pursuivant
Bas Navarre Herald
Benon Pursuivant
Biauvaux Pursuivant
Bonne Ville Pursuivant
Bouloy Pursuivant
Bourbon Herald
Bourbonnais Herald
Bourgogne Herald or King of Arms
Brabant King of Arms
Bray King of Arms
Brest Pursuivant
Bretagne Herald or King of Arms
Brosses Herald
Broussel Herald
Bruyere Pursuivant
Calabre Herald
Camfier Pursuivant
Cantaing Pursuivant
Castelbon Pursuivant
Chambois Pursuivant
Charlemaisnil Pursuivant
Champagne King of Arms or Herald
Charolais Herald
Chastillon Herald
Chastelaillon Pursuivant
Chastenoy Pursuivant
Chasteau Regnault Pursuivant
Chasteau-Belin Pursuivant
Chasteaubriant Herald
Chasteaulin Pursuivant
Chasteauneuf Pursuivant
Clermont Pursuivant
Cobergue Pursuivant
Cochim Pursuivant
Conq Pursuivant
Contay Pursuivant
Cornouaille Pursuivant
Coustance Pursuivant
Cyprus King of Arms
Dampierre Herald or Pursuivant
Dauphiné Herald
Dinan Pursuivant
Donzy Pursuivant
Enghien Herald
Epinal Pursuivant
Espinette Pursuivant
Etampes Pursuivant
Eu Herald
Evreux King of Arms
Fesseaulx Pursuivant
Fesy Pursuivant
Flandres King of Arms
Foix Herald
Fores Herald
Fougeres Herald
Franche-conte Herald or Pursuivant
Franchville Pursuivant
Fribourg Herald
Gahart Pursuivant
Geneve Herald
Genville Pursuivant
Gerlles Herald
Germoles Pursuivant
Gommignies Herald
Gruuthuse Herald
Guerande Pursuivant
Guesclin Herald
Guingamp Pursuivant
Guville Pursuivant
Guyenne King of Arms
Hainault King of Arms or Herald or Pursuivant
Hannes Herald
Hennebont Pursuivant
Houdenc Pursuivant
Houdestorte Pursuivant
Hunaudaye Pursuivant
Jarnac Pursuivant
Jerusalem Herald
Jugon Pursuivant
Languedoc Herald
Le Sparre Pursuivant
Lenbourt Pursuivant
Ligny Herald
Limburg King of Arms
Limousin Herald
Lorraine Herald or King of Arms
Lothier Herald
Loudon Pursuivant
Louvain Pursuivant
Luilly Herald
Luste Pursuivant
Lyonnais Herald
Malestroit Pursuivant
Le Marche Herald
Marouel Pursuivant
Menou Pursuivant
Mirande Pursuivant
Mongommery Herald
Monrauzier Pursuivant
Monstereau-Bellay Pursuivant
Mont Saint-Michel King of Arms
Montfort Herald or Pursuivant
Montinach Herald
Montmiral Herald
Montoion Pursuivant
Montpensier Pursuivant
Montrensuy or Mouzenzicy or Moreusny Pursuivant
Montroyal Pursuivant
Mouzon Herald
Namur Herald or King of Arms
Nancy Pursuivant
Nantes Pursuivant
Navarre Herald
Neufchastel Herald
Nevers Herald
Normandie King of Arms
Orenge Herald
Orleans Herald
Orval Herald
Ostrevant Herald
Parthenay Pursuivant
Perigord Herald
Perpignan Herald
Picardie Herald
Pierrepont Herald
Plain ville Pursuivant
Poitou Herald
Pont Pursuivant
Pontarlier Pursuivant
Provence Herald
Ray Herald
Rennes Pursuivant
Renty Herald
Rethel Herald
Richmond Herald
Riplemonde Pursuivant
Rohan Pursuivant
Roussillon King of Arms
Saine Ville Pursuivant
Saint-Aubin Pursuivant
Saint Jud Pursuivant
Saint Pol Herald
Saintonge Herald
Salins Pursuivant
Samur Pursuivant
Savoy King of Arms
Schoenhoven Herald
Sessaulx Pursuivant
Sicile King of Arms
Soucy Pursuivant
Sully Herald
Talant Pursuivant
Tornay Pursuivant
Torraine Herald
Toulongeon Herald
Toulouse Herald
Tudello Herald
Valois Herald
Vannes Pursuivant
Valay Pursuivant
Vaudemont Herald or Pursuivant
Vendôme Pursuivant
Vermandois Herald
Verrey Pursuivant
Vignolles Pursuivant
Villiers Herald
Vouvant Pursuivant
Zuillant Pursuivant
 

Locative: Scottish Titles

Albany Herald
Angus Pursuivant
Armyldoun Pursuivant or Herald
Arundel Herald
Bruce Herald
Bute Pursuivant
Carrick Pursuivant
Darnaway Pursuivant
Dingwall Pursuivant
Douglas Pursuivant
Dundee Herald
Falkland Pursuivant
Garioch Pursuivant
Glas Herald
Hailes Pursuivant
Ireland Pursuivant
Islay Herald
Kintyre Pursuivant
Lindsay Pursuivant
Linlithgow Pursuivant
Marchmont Herald
Montrose Pursuivant
Orkney Herald
Ormond Pursuivant
Ross Herald
Rothesay Herald
Slains Pursuivant
Snowdoun Herald
 

Locative: Iberian Titles

Algarve King of Arms
Aragon King of Arms
Arschoot Herald
Asturias Herald
Beja Herald
Bethune Herald
Calabria Herald
Castilla King of Arms
Cataluña Herald
Ceuta Herald
Cintra Pursuivant
Coimbra Herald
Constantinople Herald
Cordoba [Herald]
Entensa Herald
España King of Arms
Estella Pursuivant
Estramos Herald
Fonterrabia Pursuivant
Frisia Herald
Girona Herald
Goa Herald
Granada King of Arms
India King of Arms
Jerusalem Herald
Leon King of Arms
Lisboa Herald
Llaunes Pursuivant
Malines Pursuivant
Mallorca King of Arms
Monreal Herald
Montemajour Herald
Moxica King of Arms
Murcia [Herald]
Napoles King of Arms
Navarra King of Arms or Herald
Nemours Herald
Oran Pursuivant
Palis Herald
Pamplona Herald
Peñafiel Herald
Portugal King of Arms
Santarem Pursuivant
Sevilla [Herald]
Sicilia Herald
Sotomayor Herald
Sidonia Herald
Tavira Pursuivant
Toledo King of Arms
Trastamara Herald
Trinacria King of Arms
Valencia King of Arms
Viana Herald
Villalobos Herald
 

Locative: German/Dutch Titles

Beyeren Herald
Borsele Herald
Brandenburg Herald
Deutschland Herald
Fleckenstein Herald
Gelre Herald
Georgenburg Herald
Germania Herald
Holland Herald
Horne Pursuivant
Jerusalem Herald
Jülich Herald
Jylland Pursuivant
Karlstein Herald
Kleve Herald
Königsberg Herald
Litherland Herald
Livland Herald
Luxembourg Herald
Merode Pursuivant
Middeler Herald
Missenland Herald
Norenbuch Herald
Österreich Herald
Polanland King of Arms
Preußen King of Arms
Rivez King of Arms
Samaiten Herald
Ungarn Herald
Vrieslant Herald
Wittenberg Herald
 

Locative: Scandinavian Titles

Danmark King of Arms
Lolland Pursuivant
Norway King of Arms
Sjæland Pursuivant
Sweden King of Arms
 

 

Heraldic Titles Derived from Mottos/Desirable Traits

 

Mottos/Desirable Traits: English Titles

Bien Alaunt Pursuivant
Bien Colier Pursuivant
Biencele Pursuivant
Biencole Pursuivant
Biendelle Pursuivant
Bon Espoir Pursuivant
Bon Rapport Pursuivant
Bonaventure Pursuivant
Bon Temps Pursuivant
Comfort Pursuivant
Desirous Pursuivant
Devoir Pursuivant
Diligent Pursuivant
Esperance Pursuivant
Espoir Pursuivant
Ich Dien Pursuivant
Il Faut Faire Pursuivant
Joieulx Pursuivant
Joye Pursuivant
Loyante Pursuivant
Passavant Pursuivant
Secret Pursuivant
Vaillant King of Arms
Volant King of Arms
 

Mottos/Desirable Traits: French Titles

A ma vie Pursuivant
Ainsi le vueil Pursuivant
Ardent Desir Pursuivant
Avant-garde Herald
Bataille Pursuivant
Bien Aimé Pursuivant
Bon Vouloir Pursuivant
Bonne et Belle Pursuivant
Bonne Querelle Pursuivant
Bonnes Nouvelles Herald
Comment qu'il soit Pursuivant
Desduit Pursuivant
Dieu y Pourvoye Pursuivant
Diligens Pursuivant
Dis-le-Vrai Pursuivant
Doulce-Pensée Pursuivant
Francquevie Herald
Gentil-Oiseau Pursuivant
Il dit vray Pursuivant
Joli-Couer Pursuivant
Los Herald or King of Arms
Loyal Cœur [Herald]
Loyaulté Pursuivant
Mains que le Pas Pursuivant
Memoire Pursuivant
Mountjoye King of Arms
Or Soit Ainsi [Herald]
Patiens Pursuivant
Passe oultre Pursuivant
Plaisance Pursuivant
Plein Chemin Herald
Plus que nulz Pursuivant
Qui que le vueille Pursuivant
Qui vouldra Pursuivant
Sans Faillir Pursuivant
Sans Repose Pursuivant
Toutseal Pursuivant
Vertus Pursuivant
Voit qui Peult Pursuivant
Vostre Vueil Pursuivant
Vray Desir Pursuivant
 

Mottos/Desirable Traits:
Scottish Titles

Mottos/Desirable Traits:
Iberian Titles

Mottos/Desirable Traits:
German/Dutch Titles

Diligens Pursuivant
Endure Pursuivant
Avanguarda Herald
Bellacueyll Pursuivant
Bonne Foy Pursuivant
Conquista Herald
Desiros Pursuivant
Jamais Herald
Joyeux Aller Herald
Laudes Pursuivant
Libertat Pursuivant
Liege Pursuivant
Paine por joie Pursuivant
Plus Oultre Pursuivant
Veritat Pursuivant
Leal Pursuivant
Lob den Frumen Pursuivant
Verswig es nit Herald
Zyt vor zyt Herald
 

 

Heraldic Titles Derived from Heraldic Charges

 

Charges: English Titles

Antelope Pursuivant
Blanc Sanglier Pursuivant
Blanch Lyon Pursuivant
Blanch Lyverer Pursuivant
Blanche Rose Pursuivant
Corbin Pursuivant
Crescent Pursuivant
Croyslett Herald or Pursuivant
Drake Pursuivant
Eagle Pursuivant
Eagle Vert Pursuivant
Estoile Volant Pursuivant
Faucon King of Arms or Herald or Pursuivant
Fleur-de-Lys Herald
Griffin Pursuivant
Leon d'Or Pursuivant
Leopard Herald
Lyon Pursuivant
Noir Lyon Pursuivant
Noir Taureau Pursuivant
Noyre Fawcone Herald
Portcullis Pursuivant
Rasyn Pursuivant
Rose Herald
Rouge Croix Pursuivant
Rouge Dragon Pursuivant
Tyger Pursuivant
 

Charges: French Titles

Charges: Scottish Titles

Charges: German/Dutch Titles

Bleu Levrier [Herald]
Corbie King of Arms
Dragon Herald
Espy Herald
Faucille Pursuivant
Faucon Pursuivant
Fuzil Pursuivant
Gonfanon Pursuivant
Oliffant Pursuivant
l'Ours Pursuivant
Papillon Pursuivant
Sanglier Pursuivant
Lyon King of Arms
Unicorn Pursuivant
Eisvogl Herald
Griffon Herald
 

Charges: Iberian Titles

Frechas Pursuivant
Restre Pursuivant
 

 

Heraldic Titles Derived from Order Names

 

Order Names: English Titles

Order Names: French Titles

Order Names: Iberian Titles

Garter King of Arms Arbre d’Or Pursuivant
Couronne Herald
Croissant King of Arms
Ermine King of Arms or Herald
Estoile Pursuivant
Porc-Espic King of Arms
Toison d'Or King of Arms
Blanc Levrier Pursuivant
Escama Herald
Vanda Pursuivant
 

 

Other Heraldic Titles

 

Regalia: English Titles

Bluemantle Pursuivant
Collar Pursuivant
 

Surnames: English Titles

Surnames: French Titles

Bardolf Herald
Bensilver Pursuivant
Fitzwalter Pursuivant
Herbert Pursuivant
March Herald or King of Arms or Pursuivant
Merlyne Pursuivant
Purchase Pursuivant
Talbot Herald
D'Olite Herald
D'Anville Pursuivant
Josselin Herald
Louys Pursuivant
Toutain Pursuivant
 

Titles: French Titles

Titles: German Titles

Priczay Pursuivant Burggraf Pursuivant
Kaiser Herald
 

Complex Locatives:

Norreys King of Arms (English)
Romreich Herald or King of Arms (German)
Ruyers King of Arms (German)
 

 

Titles of Unclear Origin

 

Unclear Origin: English Titles

Unclear Origin: French Titles

Unclear Origin: Scottish Titles

Aulet Pursuivant
Aurtt Herald
Besource Pursuivant
Bucky Pursuivant
Cadran Herald
Colombys Pursuivant
Esperance Herbert Pursuivant
Eudelet Pursuivant
Hameltude Pursuivant
Hembre Pursuivant
Henlic Pursuivant
Monteagle Pursuivant
Pisore Pursuivant
Abril Pursuivant
Bayant Pursuivant
Butisy Pursuivant
Canant Pursuivant
Cesar Jonesse Herald
Dauferais Pursuivant
Empire-Ville Pursuivant
Estoutenay Pursuivant
Eudelet Pursuivant
Eurbedelech (or Emdelech) Pursuivant
Feu Gregoiz Pursuivant
Fleur de Pensée Pursuivant
François Pursuivant
Frontiere Pursuivant
Fuses Herald
Gabriel Pursuivant
Gorkem Pursuivant
Grant Pursuivant
le Gras Pursuivant
Hauter Herald
Hermenit Pursuivant
Hincy Herald
Indet Pursuivant
Lonze Herald
Lussa Herald
Maigniens King of Arms
Mala Corona Herald
Malo King of Arms
Miaulde Pursuivant
Morœl Pursuivant
Pelerin Pursuivant
Percepelle Pursuivant
Potence Pursuivant
Quesnoit Pursuivant
Romarin Pursuivant
Rosien Pursuivant
Senestre Pursuivant
Taudes Herald
Torner Herald
Willeborde Pursuivant
Alishay Pursuivant
Dragance Pursuivant
Jop Herald
 

Unclear Origin: Iberian Titles

Flores Herald
Gounzcuant Pursuivant
Helmenia Pursuivant
Lamas Pursuivant
Las Pursuivant
Liu Herald
May Herald
Rosavante Pursuivant
Sanqueria Herald
Teste de Fer Pursuivant
 

Unclear Origin: German/Dutch Titles

Maienblüte Pursuivant
Suchenwirt Herald
Swethe Pursuivant


HTML editing by Kathleen M. O'Brien.

Medieval Scotland | Medieval Names Archive | Heraldic Titles from the Middle Ages and Renaissance


Google
  Web MedievalScotland.org   
Shop
Amazon.com
Shop
Amazon.co.uk