Symbols found on headstones.







Symbols


A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K   
L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   U   V   
W   X   Y   Z   








 
Symbols
Meaning



A




 
Acanthus
Prickly journey from life to death, triumph of eternal life




 
Acorn with Oak Leaves
Maturity, ripe old age




 
ALOH
American Legion of Honor




 
Alpha & Omega
Beginning and the end




 
Anchor
Hope




 
Anchors
Hope or seafaring profession




 
Angel, Flying
Rebirth; Resurrection




 
Angel, Trumpeting
Resurrection




 
Angel, Weeping
Grief and Mourning




 
Anvil
Forging of the universe




 
AOF
American Order of Foresters




 
AOH
Ancient Order of the Hibernians




 
AOKMC
Ancient Order of Knights of Mystic Chain




 
AOUW
Ancient Order of United Workmen




 
Arch
Victory in death, passage to heaven




 
Arrow
Mortality



B



 
Bee
Industrious, Christianity




 
Beehive
Domestic virtues, education, abundance in heaven




 
Bellflower
Constancy and gratitude




 
Bible, Open
Deceased Teacher, Minister, etc.




 
Bird
Eternal life




 
Bird, Flying
Resurrection




 
Birds, Flying
Flight of the Soul




 
Book
One's accomplishments




 
Book, Open
Deceased Teacher, Minister, etc.




 
Books, Two or More
Latter-Day Saint burial




 
Bouquets
Sorrow and fragility of life




 
BPOE
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks




 
BPOEW
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World




 
Branch Severed
Mortality




 
Breasts
Nourishment of the soul; the church




 
Buds
Life cut short




 
Bugles
Resurrection and the Military




 
Butterfly
Early death, resurrection



C



 
Calla Lily
Majestic beauty and marriage




 
Candle being Snuffed
Time, mortality




 
Cannon
Military service




 
Caterpillar
Life, metamorphosis




 
CBKA
Commandery Benevolent Knights Association




 
CCTAS
Crusaders - Catholic Total Abstinence Society




 
Celtic Cross
Faith, eternity




 
Chalice
Sacraments




 
Cherub
Angelic




 
CK of A
Catholic Knights of America




 
Clouds
Awakening to resurrection




 
Coffin
Mortality




 
Cog Wheel
Rotary International




 
Column, Broken
Loss of Head of Family




 
Columns and Doors
Heavenly entrance




 
Compass and Set Square
Freemasons, judgment




 
Conch
Wisdom




 
Corn
Ripe old age




 
Crescent (with saber and 
Shriners




 
Cross with Crown
Sovereignty of the Lord




 
Crossed Axes with MWA
Modern Woodmen of America




 
Crossed Swords
High-ranking military person, or life lost in battle




 
Crown
Glory of life after death, victory, leadership, distinction;




 
 Emblem of Faith




 
CTAS
Catholic Total Abstinence Society




 
Cup
Sacraments




 
Cypress
Hope, eternal life



D



 
DAC
Daughters of the American Colonists




 
Daisy
Innocence




 
DAR
Daughters of the American Revolution




 
Darts
Mortality




 
Dog
A Good master, worthy of love




 
Dolphin
Salvation bearer or souls across the water to heaven




 
Double Eagle with "32"
Scottish Rite 32nd Degree




 
Dove
Purity or eternal life




 
Dove Flying
Resurrection




 
Dove Holding Chain with 
Daughters of Rebekah




 
Drapes
Mourning; Mortality




 
DUV
Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War



E



 
Eagle
Courage, faith, military




 
Eagle with Stars and Stripes
Vigilance, liberty




 
EBA
Emerald Beneficial Association




 
Evening Primrose
Eternal love, memory, youth, hope, and sadness



F



 
F of A
Foresters of America




 
F&AM
Free and Accepted Masons




 
FAA
Free and Accepted Americans




 
FAM
Free and Accepted Masons




 
Father Time
Mortality




 
FCB
Knights of Pythias (Friendship, Charity, Benevolence)




 
Fern
Humility, frankness and sincerity




 
Fish
Faith, life




 
Flag
Military, patriotism




 
Flame
Everlasting life




 
Flower, Severed Stem
Shortened life




 
Flowers
Sorrow and fragility of life




 
FOE
Fraternal Order of Eagles




 
FOF
Fraternal Order of Firefighters




 
FOP
Fraternal Order of Police




 
Fruits
Eternal plenty



G



 
GALSTPTR
German American Leigion of St. Peter




 
GAR
Grand Army of the Republic




 
Garland
Victory in Death




 
Grapes
Blood of Christ, eternal life




 
Grim Reaper
Death personified




 
GUO of OF
Grand United Order of Odd Fellows



H



 
Hand of God Chopping
Sudden Death




 
Hands, Clapsed
Goodbyes said at death.




 
Handshakes
Farewell




 
Harp
Praise to the Maker, hope




 
Heart
Love, love of God




 
Heart Pierced by Sword
Virgin Mary, Christ, repentance




 
Heart Wrapped in Thorns
Promise of heavenly assistance




 
Heart, Flaming
Religious fervor




 
Holy Books, Pair
Mormom (LDS) headstones indicates the Bibleand 




 
Book of Mormon




 
Holy Books, Three
Mormom headstones indicates the Bible, Book of 




 
Mormon, and Doctrine & Covenants




 
Horns
Resurrection




 
Horseshoe
Protection against evil




 
Hourglass
Passing of time




 
Hourglass, Flying
Time flies



I



 
IHS
Eternity, Christian "In His Service"




 
IHSV
Red Cross of Constantine (Masonic)




 
Imps
Mortality




 
IOF
Independent Order of Foresters




 
IOI
Independent Order of Immaculates




 
IOKP
Independent Order of Knights of Pythias




 
IOOF
Independent Order of Odd Fellows




 
IORM
Improved Order of Redmen




 
Iris
Sorrow




 
ISH
Independent Sons of Honor




 
Ivy
Friendship, immortality, attachment, affection



J



 
JAOUW
Junior Order-Ancient Order of United Workmen




 
JOUAM
Junior Order-Order of United American Mechanics



K



 
K of C
Knights of Columbus




 
K of FM
Knights of Father Matthew




 
K of H
Knights of Honor




 
K of L
Knights of Loyola




 
K of P
Knights of Pythias




 
K of SJ
Knights of St. John




 
K of STP
Knights of St. Patrick




 
K of STW
Knights of St. Wencelas




 
K of T
Knights of Tabor




 
KC
Knights of Columbus




 
KFM
Knights of Father Matthew




 
KG
Knights of St. George




 
KGE
Knights of Golden Eagle




 
KGL
Knight Grand Legion




 
KHC
Knights of Holy Cross




 
KKK
Knights of Klu-Klus Klan




 
KM
Knights Militant




 
KM
Knights of Malta (Masonic)




 
KMC
Knights of Mystic Chain




 
KOTM
Knights of Macabees




 
KP
Knights of Pythias




 
KPC
Knights of Peter Claver




 
KSC
Knights of St. Columbkille




 
KSF
Knights of Sherwood Forest




 
KSTG
Knights of St. George




 
KSTI
Knights of St. Ignatius




 
KSTJ
Knights of St. Joseph




 
KSTP
Knights of St. Peter




 
KSTP
Knights of St. Paul




 
KSTT
Knights of St. Thomas




 
KT
Knights of Tabor




 
KT
Knights Tempar (Masonic)




 
KWM
Knights of Wise Men



L



 
Lamb
Innocence




 
Laurel
Fame, honor, victory




 
LGAR
Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic




 
Light
Life; Resurrection




 
Lily
Innocence, resurrection




 
Lily of the Valley
Innocence, resurrection




 
Lion
Courage, strength




 
LK of A
Loyal Knights of America




 
Lotus
Resurrection, perfect beauty, spiritual revelation



M



 
Menorah
Divine wisdom, usually on the tomb of a "righteous 




 
Mistletoe
Immortality




 
MOLLUS
Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States




 
Moon
Death and rebirth




 
Morning Glory
Beginning of life




 
MRA
Royal Arcanum




 
MWA
Modern Woodmen of America



N



 
NIWA
National Indian War Veterans




 
NSDAR
National Society Daughters of the American Revolution



O



 
Oak Leaves and Acorn
Maturity, ripe old age




 
Oak Tree
Strength or faith and virtue, endurance




 
Obelisk
Rebirth, connection between heaven and earth




 
OES
Order of Eastern Star




 
Olive Branch
Peace, forgiveness




 
Open Gates
Soul entering heaven




 
ORM
Order of Red Men




 
OUAM
Order of United American Mechanics




 
Owl
Wisdom, solitude



P



 
Pall
Mortality




 
Palm Branch
Victory, rejoicing




 
Pansy
Remembrance, Meditation




 
Pick
Death; Mortality




 
Picks
Mortality




 
Pinecone
Immortality




 
PM
Patriarchs Militant (Independent Order of Odd Fellows)




 
Poppy
Eternal sleep




 
Portals
Passageway to eternal journey




 
POSA
Patriotic Order of the Sons of America




 
Pyramid
Resurrection, enlightenment



Q



R



 
RAM
Royal Arch Masons




 
RAM
Royal Arch Masons




 
Ring, Broken
Family Circle Severed




 
RIP
requiescat in pace, Latin for "Rest in Peace"




 
RK
Roman Knights




 
Rock
Permanence, stability, Lord




 
Rod
Comfort for the bereaved




 
Rooster
Awakening, resurrection




 
Rope Circle
Eternity




 
Rose
Prime of life; Purity, love




 
Rosebud
Morning of Life or Renewal of Life




 
Roses
Brevity of earthly existence




 
RSTV
Rite of St. Vaclara




 
RSTV
Rite of ST. Vita



S



 
SAR
Sons of the American Revolution




 
SBCL
Saint Bonifazius Catholic Union




 
SBL
Society B. Lafayette




 
Scallop
Baptism




 
SCV
Sons of the Confederate Veterans




 
SCV
Sons of Confederate Veterans




 
Scythe
Death; The divine harvest




 
Seashell
Life everlasting




 
Severed Branch
Mortality




 
Sheaf of Wheat
Ripe for harvest, old age, fruitful life




 
Ship
Hope or seafaring profession




 
Shovels
Mortality




 
Skeleton
Life's brevity




 
Skull
Mortality




 
Skull & Crossed Bones
Death




 
Snake (tail in mouth)
Everlasting life in heaven




 
Spade
Mortality; Death




 
Spider Web
Human frailty




 
Squirrel Holding A Nut
Religious contemplation




 
Staff
Comfort for the bereaved




 
Star
Divine guidance




 
Star of David
Unity, transformation




 
Stars and Stripes around 
Vigilance, liberty




 
Stem Severed
Life cut short




 
Steps
Faith, hope and charity




 
Sun Rising
Renewed life




 
Sun Setting
End of life




 
Sun Shining
Life everlasting




 
SUVCW
Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War




 
SV
Sons of Veterans




 
Swallow
Motherhood, spirit of children, consolation



T



 
TH
Temple of Honor-Independent Order of Odd Fellows




 
Thistle
Scottish descent or remembrance




 
Tombs
Mortality




 
Torch Inverted
Life Extinct




 
Tree
Life




 
Tree Sprouting
Life everlasting




 
Tree Stump
Life interrupted; Brevity of life




 
Tree Stump with Ivy
Head of Family; Immortality




 
Tree Trunk Leaning
Short interrupted life




 
Treestone
Member of Woodmen of the World




 
Trumpeters
Heralds of the Resurrection




 
Tulip
Innocence, resurrection



U



 
UCV
United Confederate Veterans




 
UDC
United Daughters of the Confederacy




 
UR
The Uniform Ranks




 
Urn
Immortality




 
Urn with Blaze
Undying Friendship




 
Urn with Wreath or Crepe
Mourning




 
USWV
United Spanish War Veterans



V



 
VFW
Veterans of Foreign Wars




 
Violet
Humility



W



 
Weeping Willow
Lament of loss




 
Wheat Sheaf
Ripe for harvest, old age, fruitful life




 
Willows
Earthly Sorrow




 
Winged Face
Effigy of the deceased soul; the soul in flight




 
Winged Skull
Flight of the soul from mortal man




 
WOW
Woodmen of the World




 
Wreath
Victory in Death




 
Wreath on Skull
Victory of death over life



Y












					

    				

					  


						

							Current Date: 
                                                        
 Modified Date: February 17, 2008            
  Copyright © 2008 CCGG.  All Rights Reserved.
		
 	



      

        

          
        
        


          

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