The Barbados Coat of Arms

The Barbados Coat of Arms

During a Royal Visit to Barbados, Her Majesty the Queen presented the grant of Arms conveyed by Royal Warrant to the Senate represented by the President of the Senate Sir Grey Massiah on February 14, 1966.

On the Golden Shield of the Arms carries two Pride of Barbados flowers (the National Flower) and the Bearded Fig Tree (Fiscus Citrifolia) of which was common at the time of its settlement and was where Barbados got its name. (A Portuguese reference: "Los Barbados" which means "the bearded ones" a name given from a species of the Bearded Fig-Tree.)

On either side of the shield are the supporters, on the right (dexter) is a dolphin symbolic of the fishing industry and on the left (sinister) is a pelican which represents a small island named Pelican Island existing off Barbados and which is now incorporated into the Deep Water Harbour Development.
At the top of the shield is a helmet and above that mantling on a wreath is the arm and hand of a Barbadian holding (2) crossed pieces of sugar cane symbolic of the Sugar Industry. This saltire cross represents the cross upon which Saint Andrew was crucified and Saint Andrew's Day, it is also the day on which Barbados celebrates Independence (November 30).
At the bottom the Coat of Arms carries the motto "Pride and Industry."

Before the grant of arms (Coat of Arms) was conveyed, Barbados' only other official seal was the Seal of the Colony (Colonial Badge).

This was a representation of the British Monarch (Queen) standing in a shell chariot being drawn by two sea horses through foaming waters.

When a new Monarch emerged the seal was changed to a King sitting in a shell chariot.

The Seal of the Colony

Colonial Badge

The Designer

Neville Clarke Connell
1907 - 1973
Designer of the Coat of Arms

The Barbados Coat of Arms was designed by Neville Clarke Connell, born in 1907. He was a director of the Barbados Museum for almost 24 years and a writer who contributed lots of articles to the Museum Journals, local newspapers as well as publications overseas.

Mr. Connell was educated at Harrison College, Barbados and Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge. He was called to the Bar at Greyâ€™s Inn and then served in the Royal Artillery on the outbreak of the war. After his discharge he worked in an Antique Dealerâ€™s business and later the Assistant Secretary of the Institute of Incorporated Practitioners in Advertising.

The Design of Barbados Coat of Arms was of a result of lots of research by Mr. Connell who was a student of Heraldy and the artwork of Mrs. Hilda Ince (deceased) who was a talented artist.

The development sketches of the Coat of Arms remain in the possession of the Barbados Museum and Historical Society.
Mr. Connell died on January 19th, 1973 at the age of 66.

The Royal Warrant

Know we therefore that we of Our Princely Grace
and Special Favour have granted and assigned
and by these Presents do grant and assign the
following Armorial Ensigns for Our Island of Barbados
that is to say:- For Arms: Or a Bearded Fig Tree eradicated
in Chief two Red Pride of Barbados Flowers proper.
And for the Crest; On a Wreath Or and Glues A dexter Cubit
Arm of a Barbadian erect proper the hand of grasping two
Sugar Canes in saltire proper. And for supporters: On the
dexter side a Dolphin and on the sinister side a Pelican proper,
together with the Motto "Pride and Industry", as the same
are in the painting hereunto annexed more plainly depicted
the whole to be bourne and used for our Island of Barbados -
On Seals or Otherwise according to the Laws of Arms.

NOTE:

The Coat of Arms of Barbados is the official seal of the Government of Barbados. It may not be used or reproduced in any form without the approval of the Government.