Nowlan Coat of Arms and Family Motto
Arms Argent; on a cross gules, a lion passant between four martlets of the first; in each quarter a sword erect of the second.
Crest top of helmet, plume or tuft on same,
worn above field or escutcheon of coat of arms.
Motto "Cor unum, via una" is latin for "One heart, one way".
Interpretation and General Discussion Recognizing that the particular meaning of the word "way" used in the motto is path or road, one can loosely interpret the motto to mean that, as we journey together as a people, we strive to be of one heart.
The process of creating coats of arms (also often called family crests) began in the eight and ninth centuries and was well-established when the Anglo-Normans came to Ireland in the 12th century. Even though the motto associated with the family crest is relatively clear, it is difficult to attach precise meaning to the symbols used in the family's coat of arms. Following is the heraldic interpretation, based upon tradition, of the colors and symbols used in the family's Coat of Arms:
Arms Argent; on a cross gules, a lion passant between four martlets of the first; in each quarter a sword erect of the second.
Crest top of helmet, plume or tuft on same,
worn above field or escutcheon of coat of arms.
Motto "Cor unum, via una" is latin for "One heart, one way".
Interpretation and General Discussion Recognizing that the particular meaning of the word "way" used in the motto is path or road, one can loosely interpret the motto to mean that, as we journey together as a people, we strive to be of one heart.
The process of creating coats of arms (also often called family crests) began in the eight and ninth centuries and was well-established when the Anglo-Normans came to Ireland in the 12th century. Even though the motto associated with the family crest is relatively clear, it is difficult to attach precise meaning to the symbols used in the family's coat of arms. Following is the heraldic interpretation, based upon tradition, of the colors and symbols used in the family's Coat of Arms:
- Argent (silver, white) - a symbol for sincerity and nobility
- Gules (red) - a symbol for courage and creativity
- Cross - a symbol of association with Christianity and,
possibly, an involvement in the Crusades - Lion Passant - a lion with paw raised in defense indicating that the family may have been knighted; on this point, it is interesting to note that the battle banner of Richard-the-Lionheart during the Crusades consisted of three Lion Passant, one on top of the other.
- Martlet - a swallow-like bird; in Ireland, a symbol for perpetual movement;
the martlet was also used in heraldry to indicate that a family had been dispossessed; more generally, it is also the sign of a fourth son - Sword - a symbol for military virtue, the sword was the predominant weapon of the knight for most of the period from the 9th century to the end of the 15th century
- Helmet - a symbol for wise defense