Wake knot

The Wake knot or Ormond knot is an English heraldic knot used historically as an heraldic badge by the Wake family, lords of the manor of Bourne in Lincolnshire and also by the Butler family, Earls of Ormond.

Wake knot
The Wake badge.
Information
Family	Wake family
Region	Lincolnshire

Bench end in Monkleigh Church, Devon showing the Ormonde knot and arms of Thomas Butler, 7th Earl of Ormond (c.1426-1515): Gules, three covered cups or,[1]

Form

It takes the form of a Carrick bend knot connecting two ropes but the Wake knot shows the knot joining a rope and a strap.

Usage

It is depicted in the coat of arms of Bourne Town Council[2] and Bourne Academy, Lincolnshire where the Wakes were lords of the manor.

The crest of the arms of the Isle of Ely County Council was a human hand grasping a trident around which an eel was entwined; on the wrist of the hand was a Wake knot, representing Hereward the Wake.[3]

The crest of No. 2 Squadron RAF includes a Wake knot; its motto is Hereward.

References

1. Debrett's Peerage, 1968, p. 864, Butler, Earl & Marquess of Ormonde
2. "Image of coat of arms" (JPG). Civicheraldry.co.uk. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
3. W. C. Scott-Giles, Civic Heraldry of England and Wales, 2nd edition, London, 1953