Crown on a Headstone: Meaning of Victory and Glory

A crown on a headstone usually speaks of reward and victory.

What it means

History

The cross-and-crown emblem was widely used by Christian families and fraternal groups in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Using it on a new headstone

• A cross and crown above the name.
• Pair with "Be thou faithful unto death" (Revelation 2:10).

Different crowns, different meanings

• Crown alone — victory and the reward of a faithful life ("Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life", Revelation 2:10).
• Crown and cross — the reward of faith after earthly suffering; also a Christian Science emblem.
• Crown of thorns — Christ's suffering.
• A crown for a matriarch or patriarch — the head of the family.
• A chess king or queen — see chess player ideas.

Crowns look elegant in gold leaf on black granite — see gold leaf lettering.

Crown designs

• A small crown above the name — simple and regal.
• A crown and cross — faith rewarded.
• A crown of roses — for a beloved mother.

Gold leaf crowns look striking on black granite.

Crowns for matriarchs and patriarchs

Families sometimes use a crown to honour the head of the family — a grandmother who held everyone together, or a grandfather everyone looked up to. Lines such as "Queen of our family" or "Our king, forever" add warmth and a touch of humour. On a companion stone, a small crown above each name works for a long-married couple. See chess player ideas for the king and queen pieces.

Key Takeaways

• A crown means victory over death.
• The cross and crown mean reward after life's trials.
• A crown of thorns recalls Christ's suffering.

Next Step

Explore more symbols in our headstone symbols guide, or add a symbol in the Design Studio.