3. The Carroll Coat of Arms
The original purpose of the coat of arms was to distinguish one combatant from another when clad in armour. In addition to being displayed on shields, armorial designs were frequently enamelled on the breastplate and embroidered on the medieval surcoat or great-coat and this is where the expression 'coat of arms' comes from. The term 'arms' being an abbreviation for 'armorial bearings'.
Shields were designed to be easily described in Norman French, the original language of Heraldry, to be duly noted in the record rolls of the heralds. The technical term for such a verbal description is 'blazon' from the Latin blasana meaning shield.
The coat of arms of the Carroll family is as follows:
Blazon:
He beareth sable two lions rampant combatant or armed and langued gules supporting a sword point up proper pommel and hilt of the second.
This translates into a black shield with two gold, rampant lions with red claws and tongues facing each other about a point up sword with a gold pommel and hilt.
The black denotes constancy and sometimes, although more rarely, grief. The lions signify, according to old heraldic works, bravery, ferocity and liberality. The word leomhan was the Gaelic term for a great warrior or chieftain as well as for a lion.
An leoman do-bheir an chraobh (The lion/warrior who sweeps the prize).
The sword is the true emblem of military honour and should incite the bearer to a just and generous pursuit of honour and virtue in warlike deeds. It signifies government and justice.
Crest:
On the stump of an oak tree sprouting a hawk proper belled or.
The oak tree stump, acorn and oak leaves signify antiquity and strength. The oak (dair) was, according to the brehon laws, one of the chieftain trees. The hawk (seabhac) signifies keen eye-sight.
Motto:
In fide et in bello fortes.
Firm in faith and war.
The coat of arms repoduced above was produced by Heraldic Artists Ltd, Dublin (Blazon reference number 50053).
Any errors, additions, suggestions or queries please do contact me (see below).