A comprehensive list of heraldic lion “attitudes.” Learn the correct terminology and visual differences for every position from Rampant to Dormant.
Heraldic lion positions are those such as “passant guardant,” “rampant,” and so forth. They are technically referred to as “attitudes,” or positioning of an emblazoned lion’s head and body. Attitudes technically include other beasts as well; however, lions are what we are focusing on here.
Table of Contents
Each chart was lovingly created by me. We have tons of images below, so get excited!
Understanding heraldic lion positions is essential for anyone researching family crests, studying medieval history, or identifying coats of arms in historical documents. These standardized postures—called attitudes in heraldic terminology—date back to the 12th century when European nobility needed consistent visual language to distinguish one family from another on the battlefield. Today, these same heraldic lion positions appear on everything from national emblems to university crests, maintaining their symbolic power across centuries. Whether you’re tracing your ancestry or simply fascinated by medieval symbolism, mastering these positions will unlock deeper meaning in countless historical artifacts.
1. Primary Heraldic Lion Positions: Understanding Attitude
The primary positions are organized into 2 charts (above). Each chart cross references the HEAD (top row) and the BODY (side row). The terms in blue denote the head position and the terms in red denote the body position.
The first chart covers the 3 primary heraldic lion BODY POSITIONS (stattant, passant, and rampant) and their 3 associated variations of HEAD DIRECTION (unmarked, guardant, and regardant).
The second chart covers the remaining 6 BODY POSITIONS, all of which are unmarked except one. I am not double-counting the sejant body position. The HEAD DIRECTION of the lions in the second chart are all the same, except for dormant – it is facing down while at the same time still facing forward.
These 2 charts are basically 2 tidy beautiful matrices to help you master heraldic lion positions (attitudes). The POSITION OF BODY is the primary category, and the DIRECTION OF HEAD is an embellishment.
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2. Heraldic Lion Positions Terminology Overview
So most of the heraldic lions terminology came from French, in fact about 40% of our modern English vocabulary came from French . . . think Norman Invasion! The brackets represent a pronunciation guide, not quite linguistic IPA which I’m accustomed to, but the upside-down R is a French uvular R and the squiggly mark over the vowels represent nasalized vowels – it’s literally making a vowel sound with the air exiting your nose and not your mouth.
- rampant [ʁɑ̃.pɑ̃] – the most common of all the positions. Rampant means ‘ramped’ or ‘rearing up’ of a lion on its back leg with front paws outstretched.
- passant [pɑ.sɑ̃] – means ‘striding’ or walking. It as if the lion is patrolling its territory and protecting its interests. In modern French passant literally means ‘busy.’
- statant [sta.tɑ̃] – means ‘standing’ upright. All four paws are on the ground in alert position.
- couchant [ku.ʃɑ̃] – is one of two lying positions. Couchant literally means ‘lying’ or ‘setting’ in modern French as in a “setting sun.” The lion’s head is up.
- dormant [dɔʁ.mɑ̃] – is the second of the two lying positions. Dormant means ‘lying’ or ‘being still’ in modern French as in “still water.” The lion’s head is down.
- courant [ku.ʁɑ̃] – means ‘running’ at pace or ‘flowing’ as water or electricity. Courant denotes movement and the lion has all four paws in motion.
- salient [LAT: ˈsa.li.ent] – is a ‘leaping’ lion. Both back paws are on the ground, the front paws are in the air in action. A lion salient is very similar to the lion rampant, except for the 2 paws on the ground and both front legs are together in the air.
- coward [kwaʁ] – is as its name implies, in a cowardly position with its tail between its legs. Its attitude is essentially the same as a lion rampant, except for the tail.
- sejant [se.ʒɑ̃] – means ‘to sit’ and is a sitting lion with all four paws on the ground. It mimics a sitting animal.
- sejant erect [se.ʒɑ̃ eɹɛkt] – is a variation of a lion sejant, but in an erect stance with its front paws in the rampant position.
- guardant [gaR.dɑ̃] – a head direction where the lion is looking directly at the viewer.
- regardant [re.gaR.dɑ̃] – a head direction where the lion is looking back toward its tail.
- unmarked – a head direction where the lion is looking forward. It is the base attitude in heraldry and therefore does not require a descriptor.
Hey, if you are looking to learn about heraldic lion positions & terminology and family coats of arms, then I have the article for you! This is a deep dive into the history of heraldry and coats of arms, it is very informative.
The evolution of heraldic lion positions reflects the cultural exchange between medieval kingdoms. While French terminology dominates—a legacy of the Norman conquest of England—the actual visual standards emerged from a pan-European heraldic tradition. By the 13th century, heralds at tournaments needed to quickly identify knights, making standardized heraldic lion positions crucial for safety and organization. The College of Arms in London and similar heraldic authorities across Europe still maintain these precise definitions today. When researching your family history, understanding these authentic heraldic lion positions helps distinguish genuine historical arms from modern decorative designs or surname-based commercial products that lack legitimate heraldic authority.
But finish reading this article first! 👉 📚 READ “Use A Coat of Arms For A Surname? Intriguing YES and NO!”
3. Stylistic Variation
Beyond the fundamental heraldic lion positions of body and head, artists and armorers introduced distinctive stylistic elements to create unique family identifications. The treatment of tails, tongues, claws, and crowns allowed related family branches to maintain similar heraldic lion positions while adding differencing marks. This system of cadency—visual modifications indicating family relationships—meant that a lion rampant could belong to dozens of different families, each distinguished by color combinations (tinctures), tail variations, or added charges like crowns or weapons. These nuances make understanding heraldic lion positions both an art and a science.
What’s a lion without his tail? Interestingly, heraldic lion positions (attitudes) also include stylistic variations such as TAILS. While the lions below are all rampant, their tails differ according to artistic interpretation and functional differentiation. These are definitely fun bits.
The variations of heraldic lions are as endless as the imagination in terms of color, highlights, accoutrements, and much more. The Heraldry of the World wiki page does a nice job of outlying many of these which include some seemingly strange variations such as a “half lion” and a “lion without a head!” I also cover those in the next section below.
Besides this blog, perhaps the most famous use of the heraldic lions can be found on the Royal Arms of England, THE 3 LIONS. This crest is immediately identifiable with England, its sports teams, as well as cultural pride for your English heritage.
The 3 lions are passants guardants or (gold) with tongue and nails azure (blue). The image on the right is for the English national football (sports) team which adds 10 Tudor Roses to the charge (no pun intended).
4. Heraldic Lions of Neubecker and Fox-Davies
Standardizing heraldic lion positions has challenged scholars for centuries. While core attitudes like rampant and passant achieved universal recognition, regional variations and artistic interpretations created inconsistencies. The two authorities examined below—Ottfried Neubecker and A.C. Fox-Davies—represent different approaches to cataloging these positions. Neubecker’s 20th-century work emphasizes Germanic heraldic traditions, while Fox-Davies’ earlier British perspective captures Victorian-era scholarship. Comparing their documented heraldic lion positions reveals both the universality of core attitudes and the rich regional diversity that makes European heraldry endlessly fascinating. Neither authority is complete, but together they provide the most comprehensive overview of historical lion attitudes available to modern researchers.
OTTFRIED NEUBECKER
Ottfried Neubecker published a book on heraldry entitled “A Guide To Heraldry” in 1979 in which he outlines 19 separate attitudes of heraldic lions. While his book is not the most comprehensive, it is valuable in that it contains heraldic lions not found in my 2 charts above; yet, bafflingly, there are others that are missing.
Notably missing from Neubecker’s heraldic lion positions are the lion courant, lion stattant guardant and lion stattant regardant, all basic attitudes.
I’ve cobbled together all of Neubecker’s heraldic lions and put them in a series of 2 cool charts! It is interesting that the images below are less coat-of-arms looking and more realistic drawings.
A. C. FOX-DAVIES
A. C. Fox-Davies’ treatise on heraldry is one of the best I’ve encountered! Entitled “A Complete Guide To Heraldry” and published in 1993, it is preeminently comprehensive on the subject of heraldic lions, their attitudes, their origins, as well as the families that best symbolized them.
Unlike Neubecker who outlines 19 separate attitudes, Arthur Charles Fox-Davies has a whopping 34 different heraldic lion positions! It took me 3 charts just to fit them all in! Surprisingly though, he is missing a key lion attitude: lion stattant regardant.
Despite this minor drawback (for which there may exist a good reason), he includes positions way beyond the normal retinue of lion bodies to include just the head, multiple heads, mixed beasts, as well as demi-lions. Heck, he even has a “lion passant guardant dimidated with the bulk of a ship.”
I’ve complied all of A. C. Fox-Davies heraldic lion attitudes from his book into this nifty, awe-inspiring series of 3 charts for you.
There is nothing quite as intriguing as looking at heraldic lion positions and getting inspired to do genealogy or make an ancestral discovery. They are always just around the corner!
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I really hope you have found this article of benefit. If you have, please leave a comment below and share your thoughts.
Mastering heraldic lion positions opens doors to understanding medieval society, family lineages, and the visual language that connected European nobility for nearly a millennium. When you encounter a coat of arms—whether in a church, on a historical document, or in a family Bible—the lion’s attitude communicates specific information about the bearer’s identity and values. A lion rampant suggests military prowess and aggressive protection, while a lion passant projects authority and vigilant guardianship. As you research your family history, pay special attention to these heraldic lion positions in primary sources like parish registers, wills, and seals, where they often provide crucial clues to establishing family connections across generations and geographic boundaries.
FAQ
“What is the difference between a Lion Rampant and a Lion Passant?”
The Lion Rampant is shown standing upright on one hind leg, with its forepaws raised as if ready to strike. The Lion Passant is shown walking, with three paws on the ground and one forepaw raised, looking ahead. The Rampant stance is the most common and powerful in British heraldry.
“What does a lion symbolize in heraldry?”
In heraldry, the lion is known as the ‘King of Beasts’ and primarily symbolizes bravery, royalty, valor, and strength. Specific attitudes, like a Dormant (sleeping) lion, can carry secondary meanings such as peace or protection, but the core meaning is courage.
What are the main attitudes of heraldic lions?
The main attitudes are Rampant (rearing), Passant (walking), Statant (standing), Sejant (seated), Couchant (lying down with head up), Dormant (sleeping), and Salient (leaping).
How can I identify heraldic lion positions on historical documents?
Answer: When examining historical documents, seals, or church monuments, start by identifying the lion’s body position—is it standing (statant), walking (passant), rearing (rampant), or lying (couchant/dormant)? Next, check the head direction: facing forward (unmarked), looking at you (guardant), or looking backward (regardant). These two elements comprise most heraldic lion positions. Look for additional details like tail position, tongue color (often red or blue), or whether the lion holds objects. Photograph the image clearly and consult heraldic reference works or this guide to match the exact attitude. Remember that artistic style varies by century and region, but the fundamental heraldic lion positions remained consistent, making them reliable identifiers even in worn or damaged sources.
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Thank you, I am a jeweller and have a small silver pendant depicting what I now know to be a lion dormant, on a rock, with two shields; a fleur de lys under his head/ one paw and a pike just visible under it. There is also a cross of St George next to the head, facing him. It’s quite ‘England First!’ Does this ring any bells in terms of representation of a specific event or family? There is unfortunately no surviving hallmark, but the lot it was purchased with was all antique silver from the belongings of a Birmingham jeweller in the early 1900s.
Many thanks.
Christine
I wish I could see a picture of that! However, from what you are describing it does have several obvious elements of standard heraldry: the lion, the shields, the fleur de lys, the pike, and of course the Cross of St George! How those elements are combined and to which family it may have belonged is hard to judge from a single description. If the description were written in heraldic language you could probably search the College of Arms for that information. Perhaps if you submit a picture to the college they might be able to help you identify it.
That sounds like the Lion of Lucerne. It is Swiss, not English. The Cross of St. George is actually the Coat of Arms of Switzerland.
That sounds like the Lion of Lucerne. It is Swiss, not English. The Cross of St. George is actually the Coat of Arms of Switzerland. The lion is actually dying, not sleeping.
Thank you David for that clue! I hope that is the key to unlock Christine’s mystery pendant! Cheers.
I believe this is the image you are describing, as per David’s identification. I hope this helps Christine.
Lion Monument, Lion of Lucerne Wikipedia
I have found an old family note about our coat of arms, but I cannot find anything about the description of the Lion ……
Arms – Gules, on a Fess Or 3 Mullets Azure between a Tower Argent in Chief and a Lion Rampant of the Second in Base……….. Any ideas?
I would translate this loosely as: “Gules” = ‘red’ (probably a red background); “Fess Or” = ‘a golden band’ (“Or” = ‘gold’); “Tower Azure” = ‘a blue tower’ (“azure” = ‘blue’); “3 mullets argent” = ‘3 silver stars’; “In Chief” = ‘on the top third of the coat of arms’; “Lion Rampant” = ‘standing lion (refer back to this article!)’; “of the Second in Base” = ‘the lower half of the coat of arms.’ My best guess would be a charge (with red) a gold horizontal stripe with 3 silver stars with a blue tower above the stripe and a lion rampant below the stripe. Like it, has the tower on top, the lion on the bottom divided by a gold horizontal band in between. What are your thoughts?
The shield is divided into four parts by a fess or horizontal band. The upper part of the shield is argent (silver) and contains a tower. The lower part of the shield is azure (blue) and contains a lion rampant. There are three mullets azure on the fess
Yes, I like this description. However, question: how is a shield divided into 4 parts with a single horizontal band, any clarification? Thanks for your comment, it gives a closer approximation I believe.
The blazon describes a red shield with a gold horizontal stripe in the middle. On the stripe are 3 blue stars. Above the stripe is a silver tower, below the strip is a gold lion standing up. “Of the second” refers to the second color mentioned, which is gold (or).
Thanks.
You are welcome, I’m glad this article helped.
I have a belt with lion on front . Grandfather mail it from Germany while in the war. I was told it was very old. It a leather belt with lion standing up looking back it’s all Weaved. Has Leaving on the back that has a man on a horse. And then a weird looking, we’ve you happen to know anything about it, thank you.
Hi, that sounds like an incredible family heirloom. I wonder what the story behind his acquiring the belt was? I’d love to see a picture of it, it might help to identify its origin. Email me if you would like! Is it a lion’s face, or side profile? Does it resemble any of the heraldic lion attitudes discussed in this article?
Your site is very helpful but has raised a question. I am researching the coat of arms of Ypres, from WWI and it shows a lion rampant, regardant AND coward. Can you give me an idea what that means please?
The lion is standing up (rampant) looking backwards (regardent) with its tail between its legs (coward).