Spies And General Secret Squirrels

[Abby Normal]

yeah but what the hell is it? a palm, frond, quill, plume?
does the star mean royalty? and is the hairy thing at the bottom represent an island?

Coat of arms can be pretty wacky. My brother in law is Scottish and their coat of arms is a pelican ripping its own flesh off to feed its chicks. the motto is something like "from pain comes strength". weird.

[Simon Wood]

Hi Abby,

It's a crest rather than a coat of arms, but how one arrives at 'No reward without effort' from a palm tree, a few rocks and what looks like a starfish is beyond me.

Good luck if you're thinking of trying to work it out.

Regards,

Simon

[DJA]

As Horace put it ...... no palm without dust.

[Robert]

Abby :

https://www.durhamworldheritagesite.com/architecture/castle/intro/west-range/kitchen/pelican

[Abby Normal]

thanks all. interesting.

[SirJohnFalstaff]

Hi All,

I finally identified this symbol.

It was in Fairbairns Book of Family Crests [2 vols].

[ATTACH]18022[/ATTACH]

It is the crest of the Archibald family, who were movers and shakers in Canada.

Palma non sine pulvere is the family motto. No reward without effort.

Regards,

Simon

He was lieutenant governor of Manitoba and a strong advocate in favor of the confederation.

He was involved in the defense of the country during the Fenian attacks.