Cemeteries: Tombstones and Symbols and Records, Oh My!
What can cemeteries tell us about our ancestors? Marty Pulido from the Hurst Texas Stake shares what we can learn from graves and how it relates to family history.
A cemetery in Oberammergau, Germany. Photo courtesy of Debby Adair.
Do you consider yourself a taphophile? If you do, you are part of a unique group of tombstone tourists, otherwise known as cemetery enthusiasts, cemetery tourists, grave hunters, gravers, or taphophiles.
Marty Pulido of the Hurst Texas Stake is a taphophile. Recently he shared his passion, enjoyment and knowledge of cemeteries and family history work in a free Zoom presentation (available for viewing here.) Here are a few key learnings from his session:
What Tombstones Can Tell Us
A headstone, tombstone, or gravestone is a stele or marker, usually stone, that is placed over a grave. It is traditional for burials in the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim religions, among others.
“Besides paying one’s respects, visiting ancestral graves can provide valuable insights,” said Marty Pulido. “Examining the graves’ proximity to other graves, and studying the information on them, you can discover unknown children and relatives, and even the cultural climate from which they sprung.” He goes on to say:
“Cemeteries are ‘open air museums’ providing windows into times past.”
The inscription information on the headstone generally includes the name of the deceased and their date of birth and death. Such information can be useful to genealogists and local historians. Large cemeteries may require a discreet reference code as well to help accurately fix the location for maintenance.
“While we may think graves just list an ancestor’s name and birth and death dates, they may also provide other valuable claims, such as professions, marital information, maiden names, and in rare cases, causes of death,” said Marty.
In addition, some gravestones also bear epitaphs in praise of the deceased or quotations from religious texts, such as “requiescat in pace.” In a few instances the inscription is in the form of a plea, admonishment, testament of faith, claim to fame or even a curse such as William Shakespeare’s inscription famously declares:
“Good friend, for Jesus’ sake forbear,
To dig the dust enclosèd here.
Blest be the man that spares these stones,
And cursed be he that moves my bones.”
Tombstone Symbols and Meanings
If visiting a cemetery, you may be wondering about the meanings of the designs and symbols carved on the gravestones. These symbols have special meanings and indicate the viewpoint of the society regarding life and death at different points of time.
Most of the information on this grave marker in Oberammergau, Germany is communicated through symbolism. Photo courtesy of Debby Adair.
Thousands of different religious and secular symbols and emblems have adorned tombstones through the ages, indicating attitudes towards death and the hereafter, membership in a fraternal or social organization, or an individual's trade, occupation or even ethnic identity.
“Tombstones can display symbols that enlighten you into your ancestors' religious backgrounds, organizational affiliations, or military history,” said Marty. “For instance, I had no idea one of my ancestors was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows until I saw a three-linked chain on his grave with the letters F, L, and T."
While the symbols present in gravestones may have simple interpretations, it is not always easy to determine their meaning and significance on your own. Here’s a list of common gravestone symbols along with their meanings (see the Editor’s Note below for a full list of resources):
Alpha and Omega – These are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet and it symbolizes the beginning and the end.
Anchor – well-grounded hope, steadfastness, or eternal life.
Arch – the passage to heaven or victory over death.
Arrow – mortality or martyrdom.
Beehive – domestic virtue, faith, education, and human industry.
Boat – a voyage or journey to the other side.
Buds – renewal of life or the loss of a young soul.
Butterfly – resurrection or early death.
Candle – the spirit of the soul.
Corn – rebirth and fertility.
Column – the noble life of the deceased or the head of the family.
Clock – the passage of time.
Drapery – mourning and mortality.
Daisy – innocence of a child.
Dog – loyalty, fidelity, and vigilance.
Eagle – the deceased was a veteran.
Easter lily – purity and chastity.
Female figure – sorrow and grief.
Flower – immortality or fragility of life.
Flying bird – rebirth.
Fern – humility and sincerity.
Garland – victory over death.
Grim Reaper – inevitability of death.
Gate – the passage from earth to heaven.
Harp – praise to God and hope.
Hourglass – passage of time.
Hands (Clasped) – It symbolizes farewell and the hope of meeting again in eternity.
Hand (Pointing up) – the pathway to Heaven.
Ivy – friendship, eternal life, and immortality.
Knot – marriage and unity.
Lily – purity, chastity, and resurrection.
Lamb – innocence.
Laurel – the ‘evergreen’ memory of the deceased or victory over death.
Moon – death, rebirth, or victory.
Myrtle leaves – undying love and peace.
Morning Glory –the beginning of life along with beauty, youth, and love.
Oak Leaf – long life, strength, endurance, faith, and virtue.
Owl – wisdom and watchfulness.
Olive Branch – peace, fruitfulness, forgiveness, purification, humanity, and victory.
Plow – the harvest; the reaping of one’s life.
Poppy – eternal sleep.
Pyramid – resurrection, eternal life, enlightenment, spiritual attainment.
Rosemary – remembrance.
Rainbow – union or fulfillment of the promise of resurrection.
Rooster – awakening, vigilance and resurrection.
Scroll – life and time.
Ship – It symbolizes the church or a life on the sea like that of a fisherman or other sailor.
Sword – It represents martyrdom or the deceased's military service.
Sleeping Child – the innocence of a child.
Tree Trunk (Broken) – premature death or mourning.
Triangle – the Holy Trinity.
Torch – It represents enlightenment, zeal, liberty, or immortality.
Urn – the soul, immortality, or penitence.
Vacant Chair – the death of a child.
Violet – humility.
Wreath – victory of death over life.
Wheat – divine harvest.
Weeping Willow – mourning, grief, sadness, lamentation.
When visiting a cemetery, take your time to appreciate the symbols carved in gravestones. The language of symbols will help you to understand your ancestors in a better manner.
The Hurst Stake Family History Center has provided a link so that you may enjoy this “Tombstones—Symbols on Tombstones, Their Significance and Meanings” presentation given by Marty Pulido.
Report by Debby Adair
Debby Adair serves as a Hurst Stake Website Editor and Reporter. She is a former Financial Compliance Officer / Financial Fraud Examiner. She now spends her days enjoying retirement and enjoys traveling internationally, cooking and interior decorating during her free time.