Headstone Symbolism
Did You Know???
On many old tombstones you will find the wording, "Jane Doe, consort
of John Doe." This indicates that John was still alive at the time
Jane died. If the stone reads "Jane Doe, relict of John Doe," this
indicates that Jane's husband was already deceased at the time she
died.
See also our Organizational Abbreviations page.
Looking for information about US Military headstone abbreviations?
Check out the US Veteran's Administration Website for complete info.
Meaning of Headstone Carvings
Acorn - Baby or Young Child, Strength, Independence
Adam and Eve with Serpent and Fruit Tree - Quick Death
Alpha and Omega - Christ, the beginning and the end
Anchor/Ships - Hope, "Anchor" of the family, or Seafaring Profession
Anchor and sword crossed, hatchet and arrow in center - Knights of Columbus
Angel - God's messenger
Angel Carrying a Baby to Heaven
Angel, dropping flowers on grave - Grief, Mourning
Angel, Flying - Resurrection or Rebirth
Angel, Pointing to Heaven - Rejoicing in Heaven
Angel, Trumpeting - Resurrection
Angel, Weeping - Grief & Mourning
Angel with sword - Justice
Angels - Safety in Spirituality
Arches - Victory in Death or A Passageway into the next life
Arrows - Mortality, Darts of Death
Ax - Sudden death, life was cut short
Baby Naked - Innocence, Purity, New life
Baby Sleeping - Represents the deceased child
Bamboo - Buddha
Banner - Triumph, Victory
Basket - Fertility
Bat - Death, misfortune
Bed - At Rest, Anguish at the loss of a loved one
Beehive - Industriousness
Biblical Sacrifice Scene of Abraham & Isaac with the Angel - Cut Down in Prime of Life
Bird - The Soul
Bird, Flying - Resurrection
Birth - Eternal Life
Bone - Death
Book - The Bible, Wisdom, Knowledge
Book, closed - Secrecy, Final acts written, Chastity
Book, cross laying over it - Faith personified
Book, open - Perfect Knowledge, The Bible
Bouquets/Flowers - Condolences, Grief, Sorrow
Breasts (Gourds, Pomegranates) - Nourishment of the Soul (by the church)
Broken Chain - Family Ties Broken, Early loss of life.
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
Caduceus - Medical Profession
Candle - Life
Candle Being Snuffed - Time, Mortality
Candles, two - Dual nature of Christ
Candles, three - The Trinity
Candles, five - The five wounds of Christ
Candles, seven - Jesus
Castle - Reference to the Kingdom of Heaven
Chain Links, broken - Family unity is broken
Chain Links, three - International Order of Odd Fellows
Chain Links, three with R - Rebekah Lodge
Chair, empty - Absence of authority, Loss of a loved one
Chalice - The Eucharist
Cherub - Angelic, Messenger of Divine wisdom
Child naked - Innocence, Purity, New life
Child Sleeping - Represents the deceased child
Church with steeple - Minister
Circle - Eternity, Completeness
Circle with K in center - Kiwanis International
Clock - Symbol of the Passage of Time, usually stopped at the hour of death
Cloud with hand emerging - God reaching down to the deceased
Clouds - Transition to the afterlife
Clover - The Trinity
Clover with H inside each petal - 4-H organization
Coffin - Death of the Flesh
Columns & Doors - Heavenly Entrance
Column broken - Sudden Death, Life cut short
Column completed - Full life, Complete life
Compass with G in center - Masons
Corn - Ripe Old Age, Fertility, Health
Cornucopia - Abundance, Thanksgiving, The Bounty of God
Cradle - Loss of an infant, Rebirth
Crescent - Emblem of the Virgin Mary
Cross - Emblem of Faith
Crossed Swords - High-ranking Military Person
Crown - Glory of Life After Death
Cup or Chalice - The Sacraments
Daisies - Youth, innocence
Darts - Mortality
Deid Bell - The Bell Toll of Death
Doors - Passageway into the Next Life
Dove - Innocence, Gentleness, Affection, Purity, Holy Spirit
Dove with an Olive Branch - Eternal Peace
Dove with half-moon and R - Rebekah Lodge
Drapes - Mourning or Mortality
Eagle, double-headed with 32 on breast - 32nd Degree Mason
Eagle with FOE - Fraternal Order of Eagles
Eagle with shielded breast inside fleur-de-lis - Boy Scouts of America
Elk - Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
Father Time - Mortality
Fig Leaves - Abundance, fruitfulness
Figures with Dart - Killed
Finger pointing up - Soul has gone to Heaven
Finger pointing down - God reaching down for the Soul
Fireman's helmet - Fireman
Flame or Light - Life or Resurrection
Fleur-de-lis - The Trinity
Flower, Severed Stem - Shortened Life or Fragility of Life
Flying Birds - Flight of the Soul
Fruits - Eternal Plenty
Full-Bloom Rose - Prime of Life
Garland or Wreath - Victory in Death
Gate - The passage from one realm to the next.
Gourd - Fertility
Grape Clusters - Sacrifice, The Eucharist, Body and Blood of Jesus
Grave Vine - Christ
Grim Reaper - Death Personified
Half Carved, Half Uncarved stone - Transition from Life into Death
Half-moon and dove with R - Rebekah Lodge
Hand holding Ax - Sudden Death, Life was cut short
Hand of God Chopping - Sudden Death
Hand, Pointing Up - Pathway to Heaven or Heavenly Reward Photo
Hands, Clasped - Good-byes said at Death
Hands, Middle and Ring Fingers Separated - Jewish Blessing Hands, called the Kohanim or Cohanim hands.
It shows the hands arranged in the priestly blessing. Kohanim are assumed to be direct male descendants
of Aaron, who was the first Kohen and the brother of Moses. Photo
Handshakes - Farewell, God's welcome into Heaven and farewell to earthly existence Photo
Handshake with Masculine and Feminine Sleeves - Holy Matrimony Photo Photo
Harp - Praise to the Maker, Joy
Hatchet with TOTE - Improved Order of Redmen
Heart - Love, Love of God, Abode of the Soul, Mortality
Heart with cross and anchor - Love, faith and hope
Hearts - Soul in Bliss or Love of Christ
Heraldry Marks:
Label (horizontal bar with three bars extending down) - First son
Crescent (half-moon) - Second son
Mullet (five-pointed star) - Third son
Martlet (bird) - Fourth son
Annulet (ring) - Fifth son
Fleur-de-lis - Sixth son
Rose - Seventh son
Cross - Eighth son
Double quatrefoil - Ninth son
Horns - The Resurrection
Hourglass - Swiftness of Time
Hourglass with Wings of Time - Time Flying, Short Life
Imps - Mortality, Evil demons victorious over death
Iris - Hope, purity
Ivy - Friendship and Immortality, dependence
Lamb - Innocence, Meekness, God's Flock, Child's grave
Lamb, lying down - Suffering of Christ
Lamb, standing - The triumphant risen Christ
Lamp or flame - Hope of resurrection
Laurel - Fame or Victory
Leaf - Happiness
Lighthouse - Safety, watchfulness
Lily or Lily of the Valley - Emblem of Innocence and Purity
Lion - Courage, the Lion of Judah, Bravery
Lute - Friendship, marital bliss
Lyre - Harmonious union
Mansion in sky - "In my Father's house there are many mansions"
Menorah - Judaism
Morning Glory - Beginning of Life
Oak Leaves & Acorn - Maturity, Ripe Old Age, Strength of faith
Obelisk - Eternal Life or Regeneration
Olive tree or branch - Peace, reconciliation between God and man
Open Book/Bible - Deceased Teacher, Minister, Etc.
Pall - Mortality
Palm Branch - Victory and Rejoicing
Peacock - Immortality, Pride, Vanity
Pear - Christ's Love for Mankind
Phoenix - Resurrection
Pick - Death, Mortality
Pillar or Column broken - Life cut short, Sudden Death
Pillar completed - Full life, completed life
Pine Cone - Spiritual fertility
Pineapple - Perfection, Welcome
Poppy - Sleep
Portals - Passageway to Eternal Journey
Resurrection Scene - Hope for a Renewed Life in Death
Rod or Staff - Comfort for the Bereaved
Rooster - Awakening; Resurrection
Rose - Motherhood, beauty
Roses - Brevity of Early Existence
Roses: Full Blown - Prime of Life
Scales of justice - Attorney
Scroll - God's Book of Life, Wisdom
Scythe - Death or the Divine Harvest
Seashell - Resurrection, Life Everlasting, Life's Pilgrimage
Severed Branch - Mortality
Shells - Pilgrimage of Life
Sheaf of Wheat - Ripe for Harvest, Divine Harvest Time
Shield - Faith, Protection
Shovel - Death
Shrouded Woman - Mourning
Skeleton - Brevity of Life
Shoes, empty, one overturned - Child's death
Skull - Mortality
Skulls/Crossed Bones - Death
Skull and cross bones within heraldic shield - Knights of Pythias
Snake (Tail in Mouth) - Everlasting Life in Heaven
Spade - Death
Spade & Shovel (crossed) - Mortality
Spinning Wheel with thirteen stars - Daughters of the American Revolution
Star - Spirits Rising (also Masonic attributes if five points)
Star, five-pointed rounded tips - Grand Army of the Republic
Stars & Stripes Around Eagle - Eternal Vigilance, Liberty
Stars, five-pointed inverted - Eastern Star
Sun Rising - Renewed Life, Dawn of life
Sun Setting - Death
Sun Shining - Life Everlasting
Sword - Liberty
Swords, crossed - Battle
Tablets, two - The Ten Commandments
Thistle - Scottish descent
Thistles - Remembrance
Tombs - Mortality
Torch Upright - Life Everlasting
Torch Inverted - Life Extinct or the end of a family line
Treble clef - Musician
Tree Sprouting - Life Everlasting
Tree - Life *Many stones carved in the shape of trees represent the Woodsmen of the World.
Tree Stump - Life interrupted
Tree Stump with Ivy - Head of Family, Immortality
Tree Trunk, Leaning - Short Interrupted Life
Triangle - The Holy Trinity
Trumpeters - Heralds of the Resurrection
Trumpets - Call of the Spirit, Welcome to Heaven
Urn - Immortality (life will be restored)
Urn with Blaze - Undying Friendship, Soul arising out of the ashes
Urn with Wreath or Crepe - Mourning
Vine - Christ
Weeping Willow Tree - Sorrow, Grief, Nature's Lament
Wheat - Harvest, Prosperity, Long Full Life
Willows - Earthly Sorrow
Winged Effigies - Flight of the Soul
Winged Face - Effigy of the Deceased Soul; Soul in Flight
Winged Skull - Flight of the Soul from Mortal Man
Woman Shrouded - Mourning
Woman Weeping - Mourning
Wreath on Skull - Victory of Death over Life
Wreath - Victory, Mourning
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