In each case the councils were granted by letters patent issued by the officers at the College of Arms.
Before 1945 the county council used an unofficial coat of arms consisting of a gold shield bearing a blue eagle.
All four of the new 1974 county councils received grants of complete "achievements" of arms consisting of a shield, crest and supporters.
On 1 April 1986 the two metropolitan county councils in Yorkshire were abolished under the Local Government Act 1985.
Supporters: Upon a compartment of a heather moor proper on the dexter a lion Or holding in the sinister forepaw a sword argent hilt pomel and quillons gules and resting the sinister hindpaw on a fountain on the sinister a lion Or holding in the dexter forepaw two keys in saltire argent and resting the dexter hindpaw on a serpent coiled proper.
In the background of the shield are narrow green and blue waves representing the Yorkshire Dales and Wolds.
A number of symbols were added for heraldic difference: crossed keys for the archdiocese of York, the sword borne before the Lord Mayor of York, a serpent for St Hilda of Whitby and a heraldic fountain for the county's coats and waterways.
[18] Granted 22 August 1975 The arms featured a W-shaped pattern and white rose to represent "West Yorkshire".
The black diamonds represented coal mining and the red and silver zig-zag pattern steel processing: on top of these were placed white roses.
The green and gold stripes of the shield represent the wealth generated by the land of the East Riding.