Occupation and Hobby Symbols for Headstones: 50+ Ideas

Religious symbols are the classic choice, but many families now add an emblem that shows what someone loved or did for a living. See our symbols and meanings guide for traditional emblems.

Occupations and trades

Sports and outdoors

Fishing rod and fish, deer or duck, golf club and flag, hockey sticks, baseball, football, curling stones, canoe, mountains, motorbike, snowmobile.

Music and arts

Guitar, piano keys, violin, musical notes, paint palette, camera, dance shoes.

Home and family

Rose or garden flowers, knitting needles, a coffee cup, a family dog or cat, a cottage, a kitchen whisk.

Size and placement

• Corners of the die suit small emblems either side of the name.
• A single emblem above the name balances well on uprights.
• Detailed scenes belong on black granite — see custom etched scenes.
• Keep emblems at roughly 3–4 inches on a standard upright so the name stays dominant.

Cemetery rules

Most cemeteries allow emblems; a few restrict images or logos. Commercial logos and team trademarks may need permission from their owners, so many families choose a generic version (a hockey stick rather than a team crest).

Key Takeaways

• An emblem can say more about a person than a long epitaph.
• Corner emblems and a single centred symbol both work well.
• Choose generic designs over trademarked logos.

Next Step

Add a symbol to your stone in the Design Studio.