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Blazon:
Or, a lion rampant double queued Azure charged with a
Mullet of seven points Or, a closed helm argent, for the crest,
on a wreath or and azure a bear argent, muzzled gules, collared
azure, studded, garnished and chained Or, supporting a
rugged staff proper, and for mantling Azure doubled Or.
Blazon in English:
On
a gold shield, a blue double tailed lion in a rampant or attack
pose, with a gold seven-pointed star placed over the lion, a closed
silver helmet, and for the crest, on a gold and blue wreath, a
silver or white bear, with a red muzzle and a blue collar with gold
studs and edge. The bear is chained with a gold chain and is
supporting a rugged staff of natural colours.
Explanation:
The blue lion rampant with a double tail is for the
de Sutton (Dudley's) who came from the English Midlands town of
Dudley. Dudley castle, in the old city centre, was once a principle
family seat of power and was held for the family from circa 1420
until 1643 by the 1st
through 5th Baron of Dudley. The lion signifies strength
and the double tail is for confidence.
To this is added a seven-pointed gold commonwealth
star for Australia to make it different to the Dudley family line in
the UK.
The helmet is closed, facing to the left as this is
the helmet used for gentlemen knights, or warriors thus the military
significance.
On the crest is a wreath of blue and gold, taken from
the Australian coat of arms and is again for Australia. On the
wreath stands a muzzled bear which is the symbol of the city of
Warwick, where the Dudley's, through Lord Ambrose Dudley 3rd
Earl of Warwick and Lord Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of
Leicester, held a second family seat. The bear is prominent on the
tombs of Lord Robert and his wife Lady Lettice and also on the tomb
of Lord Ambrose in the Beauchamp Chapel of St Mary's Church in
Warwick.
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Tomb of Lord
Robert and Lady Lettice Dudley |
Tomb of Lord
Ambrose Dudley |
The bear and the lion also appear on the caving by
John Dudley, the 1st son of John Dudley Duke of
Northumberland, in the Beauchamp Tower of the Tower of London when
he, his brothers and father were imprisoned after the fall of Lady
Jane Grey, wife of John's brother, Guildford. The carving features
the bear and ragged staff (the badge of the Earls of Warwick), the
double-tailed lion rampant (badge of the Dudley family) and a floral
border with oak leaves and acorns for Robert Dudley (Quercus robur
is the Latin for English oak), roses for Ambrose Dudley, honeysuckle
for Henry Dudley (Lonicera henryi) and Gilly Flower for Guildford
Dudley.
The motto Droit et Loyal, is French for Just
and Loyal and has been the Dudley motto used by the family for many
years and was used by Lord Robert, 1st Earl of Leicester.
Symbols
and Colours:
The shield is gold and signifies wisdom, generosity,
glory, constancy and faith.
The lion symbolises Courage, valour and strength
whilst it is shown rampant as this is the normal attack position of
a beast in heraldry. It has a double tail to show confidence. The
colour blue represents Loyalty, truth, strength and faith. It has
red tongue and claws, which is normal and thus not described in the
blazon. Red signifies Military strength and the Warrior.
The seven-pointed star or mullet as it is called in
heraldry, is for Australia and is referred to as the commonwealth or
federation star. It is used to differentiate these arms from
the arms of the Dudley family line in the UK.
The helmet is closed and is used by knights, esquires
and gentlemen. It is silver which signifies truth and sincerity.
The bear signifies strength, cunning and ferocity in
the protection of one's kindred. It is collared and chained which
signifies a reward for acceptable and weighty service, it suggests
the bearer bore the chain of obligation or obliged others because of
services done. This signifies the military service of the Dudley
family and that of Steven's wife's maternal and paternal families
now and in the past. The bear is also the symbol of the city of
Warwick in Warwickshire, England. Once an important family seat,
second only in significance to the primary family seat in the city
of Dudley, in the West Midlands of the United Kingdom.
The colours used for the mantling and wreath of the
crest are Blue and Gold, again to signify Australia. These colours
have heraldic significance as the colours used for the wreath in the
Australian coat of arms which was granted by royal warrant in 1912.
Blue and Gold are also the colours of the ribbon of the Order of
Australia and are used on the ribbon of the long service medal of
the Australian Defence Force.
The motto Droit et Loyal, is French for Just
and Loyal and has long been associated with the Dudley family. It
appears to have been first adopted by John Dudley (1504-1553), 1st
Duke of Northumberland, 1st Earl of Warwick, 1st
Viscount of Lisle KG, in the early 16th century. It was
also the motto used by Lord Robert Dudley (1532-1588), 1st
Earl of Leicester KG, the younger son of John Dudley.
Difference or Cadency:
In heraldry,
cadency is any
systematic way of distinguishing otherwise identical coats of arms
belonging to members of the same family. These differences
are formed by adding to the arms small and inconspicuous
marks called brisures, similar to charges but smaller.
In the Arms for Jason Dudley and Nicholas Dudley, the
standard cadency of a Label and a Crescent are used to difference
the first and second born sons, the marks are in Green for Jason and
Red for Nicholas to signify
Military strength and a Warrior
as he is a soldier.
For the arms of Rebecca and Lauren, they are depicted
on a lozenge as is customary for arms of ladies. Lauren's has a blue
ribbon tied in a bow to signify that she is unmarried. In English
heraldry there are no cadency normally used for ladies so I have
adopted a form of mark taken from other countries to enable a
difference in these arms.
A green Heart is used for Rebecca Reed nee Dudley, to
signify the first-born daughter and for Lauren Dudley a green Ermine
Spot is used to signify the second born daughter.
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Arms of
Steven Ronald and Sharan Ann DUDLEY
Or, a lion rampant double queued
Azure charged with a
Mullet of seven points Or, a closed helm argent, for the crest,
on a wreath or and azure a bear argent, muzzled gules, collared
azure, studded, garnished and chained Or, supporting a
rugged staff proper, and for mantling Azure doubled Or.
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Arms of
Rebecca Ann Marilyn
Dudley
On a
lozenge
or garnished sable then or, a lion rampant double queued
asure charged with a mullet of seven points or, and in
the middle chief a heart vert for difference.
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Arms of
Jason Ronald Dudley
Or, a lion rampant double queued Azure charged with a
Mullet of seven points Or, a closed helm argent, for the crest,
on a wreath or and azure a bear argent, muzzled gules, collared
azure, studded, garnished and chained Or, supporting a
rugged staff proper, and for mantling Azure doubled Or
and the
whole differenced by a label of three points vert.
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Arms of
Nicholas William
Dudley
Or, a lion rampant double queued Azure charged with a
Mullet of seven points Or, a closed helm argent, for the crest,
on a wreath or and azure a bear argent, muzzled gules, collared
azure, studded, garnished and chained Or, supporting a
rugged staff proper, and for mantling Azure doubled Or
and in the dexter base a crescent gules for difference |
Arms of
Lauren Doreen Jane
Dudley
On a
lozenge
or garnished sable then or, a lion rampant double queued
asure charged with a mullet of seven points or, the
whole ensigned with ribbon tied in a bow asure and in
the middle chief a ermine spot vert for difference.
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