Wallis Coat-Of-Arms

In this blog we will discuss the history of Heraldry and all its symbolism. Each week we will showcase a Coat-Of-Arms. Give a written description (blazon) of the coat, it's particulars and where we obtained the information for that coat.

This weeks showcased coat-of-arms will be the surname 'Wallis' from England. Information for this coat-of-arms was found in 'HPS Surname Origin Database'.

ARMS: Checky or (gold) and sable (black) on a fess gules (red) three leopards faces or (gold) 
jessant de lis

CREST: A leopards face cabossed or (gold)

MOTTO: NEC DEVIUS UNQUAM (Never Varing)

Lets break this down. We will start with the arms:

CHECKY: In heraldry the term checky means divided into small alternating squares of two tinctures. The term is used of both the field and of an armorial bearing.

OR (Gold or Yellow): Known as 'jaune'; symbolizes generosity and elevation of the mind; one of the two metals of Heraldry. 'Or' is from Latin (aurum): the chief of the tinctures; it is called Sol by those who blazon by the sun and planets.

SABLE (Black): Black, the coldest of the colors, corresponds to lead. Black, or ‘sable,’ is symbolic of sadness. It also corresponds with winter and is a humble color, suitable for the deeply religious. It denotes the qualities of knowledge, piety, serenity and work. Engravers represent it with numerous horizontal and vertical lines crossing each other.

FESS: Represents a military belt or girdle of honor. The word Fesse is a French word; and signifies the loins of a man. The girdle of honor may seem to have been in ancient time given by Emperors, and Kings, and of his Military girdle by his demerits and offense, he is there-with-all deprived of all Military privileges.

GULES (Red): The term is probably derived from the Arabic gule, a red rose; introduced by the Crusaders. Some historians feel the word is derived from the Latin gula, which in old French is found as gueule, i.e. the "red throat of an animal." Others, again, have tried to find the origin in the Hebrew word gulade, which signifies red cloth. Symbolizes a warrior or martyr; military strength and magnanimity.

LEOPARD: In heraldry, represents those brave and generous warriors who have performed some bold enterprise with force, courage, promptitude, and activity.

JESSANT DE LIS: A fleur-de-lis shooting out from the mouth of a leopard or a lion. Conferred by Edward III during his wars in France, as a reward to some of the leaders who served under him in his victorious campaigns. The lion of the English arms is swallowing the lily of the French coat. 

Next we will discuss the crest:

LEOPARD: In heraldry, represents those brave and generous warriors who have performed some bold enterprise with force, courage, promptitude, and activity.

CABOSHED, CABOSSED OR CABOCHED: Trunked (old fr. caboche): terms applied to the heads of beasts, when borne full-faced and with no part of the neck being visible, so that it appears like the marks of a head.

OR (Gold or Yellow): Known as 'jaune'; symbolizes generosity and elevation of the mind; one of the two metals of Heraldry. 'Or' is from Latin (aurum): the chief of the tinctures; it is called Sol by those who blazon by the sun and planets.

MEANING OF NAME: From Anglo-Norman French waleis ‘Welsh’ (from a Germanic cognate of Old English wealh ‘foreign’), hence an ethnic name for a Welsh speaker.

Next week we will showcase the coat-of-arms of 'Ricci'

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