Can anyone please tell me what the three dolphins mean on the gilroy family crest ?

Question

Can anyone please tell me what the three dolphins mean on the gilroy family crest ?

Answer 1

In addition to the excellent links Tebs gave you to an earlier question, please see the links below.   One gives you information on Irish arms and the other (Bothwell) will give you excellent information regarding Scottish arms.

http://www.heraldry.ws/info/article10.ht...

http://www.bothwell.cx/arms.shtml                                        

There is no such thing as a family crest.  A crest is part of a coat of arms. Coats of arms do not belong to surnames.  There just might have been 5 coats of arms granted to men named Gilroy, all different.

Peddlers who sell them won't have all 5. They don't need to in order to sell to people who don't understand their use.

Anybody that knows about heraldry and genealogy will not laugh when they see one of those walnut plaques with a coat of arms on it on someone's den wall because it isn't polite to laugh at people about somethiing like that in their own homes.

You need to print off all these links and give them to your teacher.  If you have a textbook indicating every family has a crest or a coat of arms, it is in error.

Answer 2

You can find coat of arms symbolism here:

http://www.4crests.com/herclipsym.html

DOLPHIN: In the times of heraldry the Dolphin was known as the king of fish. It is said that those who used it as a symbol had a fondness for music and that the emblem was one of charity and affection towards children and kindred. Often referred to as "The Sailor's Friend", Dolphins were judged from ancient times to be intelligent, skilful and devoted to saving lives. Romans used the Dolphin to signify the soul's journey across the sea of death to the Blessed Isles. The Christians began to use the image of the Dolphin as a specific symbol of Christ, the 'guide' of souls across the waters of death. The Dolphin was associated with many mythological gods including Eros (shown riding a Dolphin), Aphrodite (as well, riding a Dolphin), and Taras of Tarentum (shown on a Dolphin). Greek mythology abounds with tales revolving around the Dolphin, man's guiding light of the sea. The Dauphin of France used the Dolphin as his icon to represent protection for his fleet and salvation for his country.

Answer 3

On any family coat of arms, a dolphin symbolizes "Swiftness, diligence, salvation, charity, and love".

According to www.fleurdelis.com, there is no such thing as a family CREST. To explain, they add "the crest is whatever appears above the helmet (Note that there is not always a crest for every coat of arms.), which is above the shield."

A "coat of arms" consists of several parts: the shield, the mantling, the helm, the wreath, charges, and the crest (note that not all arms have crests). The official, written description of the coat of arms is called the "blazon of arms, " which  is simply a system of code words to denote colors, placement, and styling by using an economy of words.

Elements of a coat of arms:

1. Shield: The colors and charges (lions, designs, etc. that appear on the shield) are a part of the official blazon, but the shape of the shield is not. Shield shapes vary according to the geographical origin as well as the time period.

2. Crest: Also a part of the official blazon, the crest is whatever appears above the helm. (Note that there is not always a crest for every coat of arms.)

3. Helm (or Helmet): Not a part of the official blazon, the helmet varies with the bearer's rank, the century represented, or the herald's or artist's preference.

4. Wreath: Not a part of the official blazon, the wreath usually consists of the primary color and metal.

5. Mantle/Mantling: Not a part of the official blazon (except that sometimes the colors are specified), the design varies with the herald's or artist's preference. This is said to represent the cloth that hung from the wreath and protected the back of the head and neck, even though it may often be depicted more like the leaves of a plant.

The best composition for coats of arms is:

Limit the number of tinctures (metals or colors or furs) to 4.

We recommend that you use 1-2 colors with 1-2 metals (gold/silver/white).

Limit the number of charges (elements such as animals, birds, etc.) on the shield to between 1 and 4.

More impact is achieved with one animal that is the focus, i.e., large, and other, smaller charges in balance.

Mantling and torse should echo colors of the design itself.

Traditionally, the mantling and torse (wreath) are composed of the first metal and the first color specified in the coat of arms. With multiple metals and colors, the first two metals and the first two colors may be used, but the metal should be used near the same color it is used with in the design.

Use good contrast.

Use a metal against a color or a color against a metal.

A charge must have good contrast with any charge placed entirely on it. Gold on gold is not advisable because the charge will melt into the background.

Good composition: Balance is desirable.

Repeating an element or charge can provide good balance,

as can a quartered shield with opposing colors and charges. The same metal should remain with the same color, i.e., red and silver/white, or gold and blue, throughout the design.

To contact them for more information:

Fleur-de-lis Designs

1607 Agawela Avenue

Knoxville, Tennessee 37919-8320

U.S.A.

(phone/fax number on their http://www.fleurdelis.com/tinctures.htm page)

Or click the "Contact Us" link to send them an email message.

Answer 4

Dolphin: Swiftness, diligence, charity, and love