Shropshire's Punning Heraldry - Harries

Harries.

In this example, it is the crest that provided the pun*.

Harries, of Tong Castle.

Arms: Barry of eight Ermine and Azure over all three annulets 2 & 1 Argent**.

Crest: A hawk Argent, beaked and belled Or, preying on a pheasant of the first.

(Granted 1604)

The arms of Harries, of Tong Castle

The Harris's hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus) is considered an heraldic pun for the surname Harries (or Harris) because of a phonetic and orthographic pun, often referred to in heraldry as "canting arms. "Phonetic Pun: The name "Harris's Hawk" sounds almost identical to the surname "Harries." In heraldry, puns are often used to make a coat of arms easily recognizable and memorable. 

*This may well present us with a bit of a chicken and egg conundrum; The "Harris" Connection: The bird was named by the 19th-century naturalist John James Audubon in honour of his friend and financial supporter, Edward Harris. Given that the arms of Harries, of Tong Castle, were granted in 1604 and the crest was a hawk, it is difficult to reconcile the pun on the surname if Harris's Hawk wasn't named as such until the 19th-century!

**There are in fact a number of differing references to the arms of Harries of Tong Castle. Although the Shropshire MS I am using gives the annulets as Argent and the crest of a hawk trussing a pheasant, this differs considerably from the more authoritative Visitations of 1623 which state:

Harris, of Cruckton and Tong Castle

Arms: Harl. 1896 - Barry of eight Ermine and Azure, over all three annulets Or.

crest: A hawk Argent, beaked and belled Or preying on a pheasant of the first.

The Harris, of Cruckton and Tong Castle (Or annulets version)