Sea-Horse

Randal Holme's Academy of Armory (1688) discusses all manners of fantastic animals. He distinguishes: He also mentions the Hippocampus (book II, ch. XV, n. 59, p. 358): "He beareth Or, a Skelleton of an Hipocampus (or a Sea Horse) Azure. This is taken so by many, but in truth it is an Insect Vermine of the Sea, whose foreparts are somthing like a Horse, and hinder parts bend in joynts, having many knotty or nappy incisures, by means whereof he is able to turn, and wind his Tail round inward. It is of some called the Sea Salamander, the Sea Dragon, a Sea Asphe. The Germans call it a Seerossle; but the proper name for it in English is an Hipotamus insect, or Sea Horse worm. "

Hippocampus (Randal Holme, 1688)

Holme cites Tucker as bearing azure a Chevron Or between 3 sea-horses Argent, and cites the crest of Cotgrave as On a Sea Horse Fish, a King in Armour sounding of an Horn, all proper, Bridle G. Or.

The Sea-Horse appears as a crest:

It appears as a supporter:

Here are a few illustrations from 18th c. heraldry books:


Guillim: The Banner display'd (1726)


Nichols: The British compendium (1725)


Clark: A Short and Easy Introduction to Heraldry (1776)