Stafford knot (Period)

The “Stafford knot” is one of the best known heraldic knots.  It’s seen on the standard of Henry Stafford, Earl of Wiltshire c.1520 [Walden 101].  The modern term “overhand knot” refers to this knot.

Uilliam Twit of Witlow bears:  Per fess gules and Or, three Stafford knots counterchanged.

Loop of rope with ends crossed (Period)

The “loop of rope with ends crossed” isn’t strictly a knot, but is included here as an example of rope figures in period armory.  It’s found in the Polish arms of Szamotuły, c.1460 [GATD 119v].

Thomas the Green bears:  Per pale vert and argent, a loop of rope, ends crossed in base, sable.

Quatrefoil knot (Accepted)

The “quatrefoil knot” is a closed loop with four lobes.  The blazon is a simple description of the knot’s form.  We have no examples of its use in period armory.

Eilis ni Roibeard O’Bourne bears:  Or, within a quatrefoil knot azure, a rose purpure, barbed and seeded proper.

Masthead knot (Disallowed)

The “masthead knot” is traditionally used for jury-rigging a mast; however, we have no evidence that it was ever used in period, by sailors or by heralds.  It has been disallowed from Society use.

Donal mac Ruiseart bears as a badge:  A masthead knot sable.

Mascle knot (SFPP)

The “mascle knot” is a Society innovation; it is permitted as a variant of the angular Bowen knot.  Its use is considered a step from period practice, pending documentation.

Leonard the Younger bears:  Gules, within the head of a mjolnir inverted and voided, a mascle-knot argent.

Ligature knot (Accepted)

The “ligature knot” or “surgeon’s knot” appears to be a Society invention; the knot may well have been used by period surgeons, but we’ve no evidence of its use in period armory.

Gareth of Bloodwine Gorge bears:  Sable, in saltire a pen Or, quilled argent, surmounted by a sword inverted proper, all within an annulet knotted in chief by a ligature knot argent.

Lacy knot (Period)

The “Lacy knot” is one of the oldest knot badges, found as early as c.1195 on the counterseal of Roger de Lacy, constable of Chester [Harvey and McGuinness, A Guide to British Medieval Seals, p.52]; the knot is found in carvings at Whalley Abbey, Lancashire in 1296 (built by Earl Henry de Lasci).

Rhiannon of Camrose bears:  Per pale vert and purpure, three Lacy knots Or.

Catiana de Vennes bears:  Argent, three Lacy knots azure.

Hungerford (or Dacre) knot (Period)

The “Hungerford knot”  or “Dacre knot” is sometimes found alone, but is usually found binding other charges together, as in the badge of Lord Dacre of Gilsland, c.1520 [Walden 239].

Magdalena Hungerford bears:  Per saltire vert and Or, a Hungerford knot counterchanged.

Brigid Findlater bears:  Argent, on a bend azure four Hungerford knots palewise Or.

Heneage knot (Period)

The “Heneage knot” was a period badge, granted to Sir Thomas Heneage, d.1595 [Siddons II.2 149].  It reflects the Heneage motto, Fast tho’ untied.

Maut MacAlpin bears:  Per pale vert and sable, a Heneage knot Or.

Hangman’s noose (Disallowed)

The “hangman’s noose” is the loop of rope used in executing criminals by hanging; it was also affectionately known as the “collar” in Elizabethan England.  The loop circles the condemned man’s neck; the knot is tied so as to make the loop difficult to expand.  No examples are known of its use in period armory. Due to its modern use as a hate symbol and tool of intimidation, the hangman’s noose is no longer registerable in Society armory.

Edward von Griffenberg bears:  Sable, a hangman’s noose argent.