The Paston griffin

Bold, brave and clever: the perfect symbol for the Paston family.
Did you know the griffin is female?

The griffin

The Paston family chose the fierce and fabulous griffin as their heraldic symbol.

In heraldry, the griffin's hybrid shape of an eagle (its head, neck, wings and talons) joined to the legs and back body of a lion, shows strength, military courage and leadership. This is because the lion is the King of the beasts while the eagle is King of the birds.

Selecting a symbol of your family's character for your coat of arms is not about being humble, rather it is about making a mission statement. Along with the eagle's pointed ears which signifies astute and alert listening, the griffin is the perfect symbol of the Pastons' courageous spirit and pursuit of power.

The griffin is a medieval version of the ancient symbolic mythical creature of Assyria and the East. It sits alongside other 'wonder beasts' such as the dragon, wyvern, phœnix, sphynx, and other imaginary beings.

When beasts of antiquity were brought back to prominence in the Middle Ages their symbolic significance were adjusted or enhanced to fit the ideals of Christianity. By the time the Pastons adopt the griffin, it had become a popular Christian symbol of strength in intelligence (wisdom) as well as body.

The griffin was reported to be fiercely protective of its young, and some reports suggest the griffins guarded gold as well. That the Paston family, with its redoubtable clan of matriarchs and female warriors, have this female mythical beast as its badge of identity is highly appropriate.

Find out more about the griffin
and Paston heraldry

Children (and creative adults): make your own Coat of Arms using our online tools

Draw your Coat of Arms

Colouring-in sheets of our newly named 'Gracelyn the Griffin', in different poses.

Coming soon

Large range of Key Stage 2 heraldry activity worksheets

Download activity sheets

Adults - fascinated by mythical secrets and symbols? Discover more about heraldry of the Pastons, including an interactive digital reconstruction of Sir William's tomb, on our heritage lovers site.

Visit thisispaston.co.uk

Turn the pages of the digitized NRO Rye 38 ' Paston Book of Arms', which contains a series of coats of arms of friends, relatives and associates of the Paston family

Explore

Take a walk in Paston Country, keep an eye out for the waymarking signs and be led by the courageous griffin.

Walks

How do you imagine the griffin?

Use left scroll arrow to browse through some examples below of how people have brought the griffin to life. Hover over the image to see credit of 'artist'.

Are you inspired to imagine the griffin in your own way?

Please share your photo, performance, poem, art, doodle, creative writing, knitting or any other kind of creative work and find your work featured on our creative gallery.

Post your creation on social media with the tag #pastonfootprints or email us Pastonfootprints@gmail.com. See the policy page for publication terms on this gallery.