Coat of arms of Connecticut facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Coat of arms of the State of Connecticut
Armiger	State of Connecticut
Adopted	March 24, 1931
Blazon	Argent, three grapevines proper
Motto	QUI TRANSTULIT SUSTINET "He Who Transplanted Still Sustains"

The coat of arms of Connecticut is an important official symbol for the state of Connecticut. It works alongside the state seal and the state flag. The government of Connecticut officially chose this design on March 24, 1931. They made sure it was drawn and kept safely with the Secretary of the State.

What Does the Connecticut Coat of Arms Look Like?

The official design of the coat of arms features a special shield. This shield has a fancy, curved shape called "rococo." It has a white background. In the middle of the shield, there are three green grapevines. These grapevines are growing and have fruit on them.

Below the shield, there is a white ribbon. This ribbon is split at each end and has two thin lines around its border. On this ribbon, you can read the state motto in bold letters: "QUI TRANSTULIT SUSTINET." This Latin phrase means "He Who Transplanted Still Sustains."

Even though the coat of arms was officially adopted in 1931, a similar design had been on the state flag since 1887.

The State Motto: What Does It Mean?

The motto of Connecticut is Qui transtulit sustinet. This is a Latin phrase. It means "He who transplanted sustains." You can also translate it as "He Who Transplanted Still Sustains." This motto is shown on a blue ribbon right below the grapevines on the coat of arms.

This motto has also been used for other things. For example, it inspired the name of Connecticut’s SustiNet program. This program helps provide health care to people living in the state.

Why Grapevines?

The three grapevines on the coat of arms are very important. They are said to represent the early towns or the first colonies that formed Connecticut. Some old pictures from the 1800s show several grapevines on the Connecticut Great Seal.

Today, most people agree that the grapevines stand for the three original colonies of Connecticut. These were Hartford, Quinnipiac (which became New Haven), and Saybrook. Another idea is that they represent the first three settlements of the Connecticut colony itself. These were Windsor, Hartford, and Wethersfield. New Haven and Saybrook joined Connecticut later.

Where Can You See It?

You can see coats of arms with similar designs in different places around the state. For example, the Governor of Connecticut uses a seal that looks very much like the state's coat of arms.

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  Seal of the Governor of Connecticut

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  Seal of the Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut