|
Name -
Symbol
|
Meaning
|
|
Anchor, Sextant and Crossed
Staff
|
An emblem that represents a mariner
|
|
Anchor/Ships
|
Hope or Seafaring
profession
|
|
Angels
|
Spirituality; in ancient
Babylonia angels were winged lions carved above the doorway to protect the inhabitants If the angel
is flying or trumpeting, is is a sign of resurrection If the angel is a Cherub, it is a sign of
innocence
|
|
Arches
|
Victory in Death
|
|
Arrow/s
|
Mortality
|
|
Axe, Knife and
Cleaver
|
An emblem that represents a butcher
|
|
Bird
|
Eternal life
|
|
Book
|
Books include the Holy Bible
(found on Christian headstones), the Book of Mormon (found on Mormon headstones)
|
|
Bouquets or Flowers
|
Condolences, Grief and sorrow;
if the stems are broken, the person died at a very young age
|
|
Bowl and Razor
|
An emblem that represents a
barber
|
|
Broken Column
|
Loss of Head of
Family
|
|
Broken Ring
|
Family Circle Severed
|
|
Buds/Rosebud
|
Morning of Life or Renewal of
Life
|
|
Bugles
|
Resurrection and the
Military
|
|
Butterfly
|
Short-lived; Early Death, A life
cut short
|
|
Candle
|
If the candle is being snuffed,
it is a symbol for death
|
|
Candle being Snuffed
|
Time, mortality
|
|
Chalice
|
Sacrament; the chalice is an
ancient symbol of preservation of the heart
|
|
Cherub
|
Angelic
|
|
Coffin, Father Time,
Picks/Shovels, Darts
|
Mortality
|
|
Column
|
If it is broken, it is symbolic
of the loss of the head of the family If there are doors with an unbroken column, it stands for
'entrance into Heaven"
|
|
Corn
|
The person buried there lived to
an old age
|
|
Cross
|
Emblem of Faith, Crosses include
St Andrew's Cross (an inverted cross since St Andrew couldn't bear to be crucified the same way as
Jesus), Celtic/Irish Cross (Episcopalian or Catholic priests or monks), the Crusader's Cross,
Egyptian or Coptic Cross (an Ankh that symbolizes Gnostic Christians or Coptic
Christians), the Greek Cross (an equal-armed cross), the Jerusalem Cross (associated with the
Church of the Holy Sepulcher), the Orthodox or Eastern Cross (a regular cross), the Roman or Latin
Cross, the Teutonic Cross (popular in Russia and worn by the Knights of Malta, it has two arms, and
others
|
|
Crossed Swords
|
High-ranking military
person
|
|
Crown
|
Achievements in
Heaven
|
|
Crown, Hammer and
Anvil
|
An emblem that represents a
metalsmith
|
|
Dog
|
A person worthy of
love
|
|
Dove
|
Innocence, Gentleness,
Affection, Purity
|
|
Drapes
|
Mortality
|
|
Face
|
Usually winged, it represents
the flight of the soul
|
|
Figure
|
If the figure has a dart, it is
a symbol of mortality
|
|
Flame, Light or Lamp
|
Resurrection; if it is inverted,
it means loss
|
|
Flying Birds
|
Flight of the Soul
|
|
Fruit/s
|
Eternal plenty
|
|
Full-Blown Rose
|
Prime of Life
|
|
Garland or Wreath
|
Symbolic of
saintliness
|
|
Garlands
|
Victory in death
|
|
Gourds or
Pomegranates
|
Nourishment for the
soul
|
|
Grim Reaper
|
Death
|
|
Hand of God Chopping
|
Sudden Death
|
|
Hands
|
If the hand is pointed up, with
the index finger pointed up, this is the Sign of Preservation, also called the Sign of Heaven and
Earth, and means whatever came from Heaven must also return If the hands are clasped,
it is a farewell to marriage If the hands are praying, it is a plea for eternal life If the hand is
upturned and has the index and middle finger pointing up, this is called the Sign of Blessing, or
the Christogram, and it brings blessings to those left behind
|
|
Handshakes
|
Farewell
|
|
Harp
|
Praise to the Maker, Praise or
harmony
|
|
Heart
|
Mostly found in Catholic
cemeteries, it represents Jesus dying for the sins of the world; it can also symbolize
love
|
|
Hearts
|
Soul in Bliss or Love of
Christ
|
|
Hoe or Swingletree or Stalk of
Corn
|
An emblem that represents a
farmer
|
|
Horns
|
Resurrection
|
|
Hour Glass
|
Life is gone, Swiftness of
Time
|
|
Hourglass w/Wings of
Time
|
Time Flying; Short
Life
|
|
Imps
|
Mortality
|
|
Ivy
|
Friendship and
Immortality
|
|
Knife, Nippers, Sole Cutter and
Awl
|
An emblem that represents a
shoemaker
|
|
Lamb
|
Marks the grave of a child,
Innocence
|
|
Laurel
|
Worldly accomplishments and
bravery, Fame or Victory
|
|
Lily or Lily of
Valley
|
Emblem of Innocence and
Purity
|
|
Lion
|
A symbol, like the angel, that
guards the tomb; it can also symbolize courage
|
|
Loom and Stretchers
|
An emblem that represents a
weaver
|
|
Menorah
|
The emblem of Judaism
|
|
Morning Glory
|
Beginning of Life
|
|
Oak, Oak Leaves or
Acorns
|
Power, authority and victory,
Maturity, Ripe Old Age
|
|
Open Book/ Bible
|
Deceased Teacher, Minister,
etc
|
|
Palm Branch
|
Signifies Victory and
Rejoicing
|
|
Palm Leaves
|
Happiness
|
|
Pick
|
Death
|
|
Poppy
|
Death, Sleep
|
|
Portals
|
Passageway to eternal
journey
|
|
Rake and Spade
|
An emblem that represents a
Gardner
|
|
Rings
|
If they are together, it is a
promise of lifelong fidelity If they are broken, it means that the family has been broken up after
the persons death
|
|
Rod or Staff
|
Comfort to the
bereaved
|
|
Rose/s
Many different types of stone
roses twine the tombs of UK cemeteries, each rose with its own hidden message.
Here are just a few and their
meanings.
|
If it is fully bloomed, the
person died the prime of life, Brevity of earthly existence.
Burgundy Rose: Simplicity and
beauty
China Rose: Grace or beauty ever
fresh
Dog Rose: Pleasure and
pain
Moss Rose: Melancholy
Musk Rose: The capriciousness of
life
Provence Rose: All-consuming
life
White Rose: Virginity. Full of
buds - Secrecy
Wreath of Roses: Beauty and
virtue rewarded
Yellow Rose:
Infidelity
|
|
Rosemary
|
Remembrance
|
|
Sheaf of Wheat
|
Ripe for Harvest, Divine
Harvest, Time
|
|
Shells
|
Pilgrimage of Life
|
|
Stars & Stripes Around
Eagle
|
Eternal Vigilance,
Liberty
|
|
Thistle
|
Remembrance; a person of
Scottish decent
|
|
Tombs
|
Mortality
|
|
Torch Inverted
|
Life Extinct
|
|
Tree
|
Trees symbolize life, and
include a sprouting tree (for life everlasting), a tree trunk (for the brevity of life), and a
Weeping Willow tree (perpetual morning, grief and loss)
|
|
Tree Stump w/Ivy
|
Head of Family;
Immortality
|
|
Trumpeters
|
Heralds of the
Resurrection
|
|
Urn
|
Immortality If there is a flame
in the urn, it represents undying remembrance If it is decorated with a wreath, is symbolizes
mourning
|
|
Urn with /Wreath or
Crepe
|
Mourning
|
|
Urn with Blaze
|
Undying Friendship
|
|
Wedge and Level
|
An emblem that represents a
Mason
|
|
Weeping Willow
|
Emblem of Sorrow
|
|
Wheat
|
A good afterlife
|
|
Willows
|
Earthly Sorrow
|
|
Winged Effigies
|
Flight of the Soul
|
|
Wreath
|
Victory
|
