Women in heraldry

The traditional shield was also associated with war and so women did not usually display familial arms on escutcheons.

In other nations' traditions, Canadian heraldry for example, women may inherit arms on an equal basis with their brothers (if any).

[4] In English, Scottish and Northern Irish heraldry, a woman may bear arms by inheritance from her father[5] or by grant to herself.

[7] A widowed woman usually displays the impaled arms on a lozenge-shaped shield, unless she is a heraldic heiress (see below).

[8] In England and Northern Ireland, if there is more than one surviving daughter, each transmits her father's arms on equal terms.

[1] Canada adds a unique series of brisures for use by female children who inherit arms.

Alliance arms of Mary of Looz-Heinsberg . Arms of women were usually depicted on lozenges. Here, her family arms are impaled with those of her husband, John IV, Count of Nassau-Siegen .
The coat of arms of Baroness Thatcher : in some heraldic traditions, the arms of women are displayed in a lozenge, as opposed to a shield.
The arms of Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh (right) impaled with those of her husband, Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh (left)
Coat of arms of Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester who is a heraldic heiress. Depicting her father's arms imposed over those of Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester , her husband.