The coat of arms of Oxford is the official heraldic arms of

Oxford Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...

, used by

Oxford City Council Oxford City Council is the lower-tier local government authority for the city of Oxford in England, providing such services as leisure centres and parking. Social Services, Education and Highways services (amongst others) are provided by Oxfor ...

. While the bull is common in heraldry, in the arms of Oxford an ox, which is less common, is used. The arms is

canting ' (IPA: , VOS Spelling: ''tjanting'', jv, ꦕꦤ꧀ꦛꦶꦁ, Tjanting) is a pen-like tool used to apply liquid hot wax ( jv, ) in the batik-making process in Indonesia, more precisely ''batik tulis'' (lit. "written batik"). Traditional '' ...

, showing an ox fording over water. The coat of arms with its crest—a blue imperial lion—and supporters was not formally granted but was recorded at the

heraldic visitation Heraldic visitations were tours of inspection undertaken by Kings of Arms (or alternatively by heralds, or junior officers of arms, acting as their deputies) throughout England, Wales and Ireland. Their purpose was to register and regulate the ...

on 12 August 1634. The oldest image of the ox on the water is from a seal for Oxford from the 14th Century. The water is most likely the

River Thames The River Thames ( ), known alternatively in parts as the The Isis, River Isis, is a river that flows through southern England including London. At , it is the longest river entirely in England and the Longest rivers of the United Kingdom, se ...

, which runs through the city. It is not known today what the supporters—an Elephant Ermines eared Argent tusked Or collared and lined Or and a Beaver Vert its tail barry wavy Azure and Argent ducally gorged and lined Or—were meant to symbolize. Both of the beasts also appear in the arms of families associated with the city's history. The tincture of the elephant is ermines, a fur which can also be called counter-ermine. The crown around the neck of the beaver is a duke's coronet. The crest shows a lion, which despite its tincture is supposed to be the English lion, as it is crowned with an imperial crown. It is holding a Royal

Tudor rose The Tudor rose (sometimes called the Union rose) is the traditional floral heraldic emblem of England and takes its name and origins from the House of Tudor, which united the House of Lancaster and the House of York. The Tudor rose consists o ...

. The shield was used in the logo of

Morris Motors Morris Motors Limited was a British privately owned motor vehicle manufacturing company formed in 1919 to take over the assets of William Morris, 1st Viscount Nuffield, William Morris's WRM Motors Limited and continue production of the same veh ...

, which started in Oxford.

Blazon

Arms: Argent an Ox Gules armed and unguled Or passing over a Ford of Water in base barry wavy Azure and Argent. Crest: On a Wreath of the Colours a demi Lion rampant guardant Azure crowned with an Imperial Crown proper holding between the paws a Rose Gules charged with another Argent. Supporters: On the dexter side an Elephant Ermines eared Argent tusked Or collared and lined Or and on the sinister side a Beaver Vert its tail barry wavy scalyAzure and Argent ducally gorged and lined Or. Motto: ''FORTIS EST VERITAS'' - Strong is truth

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Oxford Municipal coats of arms in Oxfordshire Coats of arms of non-metropolitan district councils