Bear in heraldry

The bear as heraldic charge is not as widely used as the lion, boar or other beasts. It occurs mostly in canting arms, in England in the familial coats of arms of Barnard, Baring, Barnes, Bearsley, etc. In English heraldry, a bear's head usually muzzled, is the more commonly used charge than the whole beast. Also canting, but associated with a legend built on a false etymology of the city's name, is the bear in the coat of arms of Berne.

Bear in heraldry

The bear as heraldic charge is not as widely used as the lion, boar or other beasts. It occurs mostly in canting arms, in England in the familial coats of arms of Barnard, Baring, Barnes, Bearsley, etc. In English heraldry, a bear's head usually muzzled, is the more commonly used charge than the whole beast. Also canting, but associated with a legend built on a false etymology of the city's name, is the bear in the coat of arms of Berne.