SYMBOLS on TOMBSTONES and THEIR MEANINGS

Michael Bruck for the Shenandoah County (Virginia) GenWeb Project

 
anchors and ships
hope or seafaring profession
arches
victory in death
arrows
mortality
bouquets / flowers
condolences, grief, sorrow
broken column
loss of head of family
broken ring
family circle severed
buds / rosebud
morning of life or renewal of life
bugles
resurrection and the military
butterfly
short-lived; early death
candle being snuffed
time, mortality
cherub
angelic
corn
ripe old age
cross
emblem of faith
crossed swords
high-ranking military person
darts
mortality
doves
the soul, purity, innocence, affection, gentleness
Father Time
mortality, the Grim Reaper
flowers
brevity of early existence, sorrow
flying birds
flight of the soul
fruits
eternal plenty
full-blown rose
prime of life
garlands
victory in death
imps
mortality
hand of God chopping
sudden death
handshakes
farewell to earthly existence
harp
praise to the Maker
hearts
soul in bliss or love of Christ
horns
the Resurrection
hourglass
swiftness of time
hourglass with wings of time
time flying; short life
ivy
friendship and immortality
lamb
innocence
laurel
fame or victory
lily or lily of valley
emblem of innocence and purity
morning glory
beginning of life
oak leaves and acorn
maturity, ripe old age
open book / Bible
deceased teacher, minister, etc.
palm branch
signifies victory and rejoicing
picks and shovels
mortality
poppy
sleep
portals
passageway to eternal journey
roses
brevity of earthly existence
sheaf of wheat
ripe for harvest, divine harvest time
shells
pilgrimage of life
stars and stripes around eagle
eternal vigilance, liberty
suns
the Resurrection
thistles
remembrance
tombs
mortality
torch inverted
life extinct
trees
life
tree stump with ivy
head of family; immortality
trumpeters
heralds of the Resurrection
urn with blaze
undying friendship
urn with wreath or crepe
mourning
weeping willow
emblem of sorrow
willows
eternal sorrow
winged effigies
flight of the soul