Coat of arms of Sunderland

The coat of arms of Sunderland is the official heraldic arms of the City of Sunderland.

The Sunderland Corporation first assumed a heraldic device in the 19th century. The first grant of arms was made in 1947, and this was not amended in 1967 when additional territory was incorporated into the County Borough of Sunderland.

In 1974, on the creation of the Metropolitan Borough of Sunderland, new arms were granted essentially the old arms with amendments to reflect the new incorporated areas, and in 1992 when Sunderland was created a City an entirely new grant of arms was made, the main charges being quite unlike any previous grant.

Sunderland has used Nil desperandum Auspice Deo ("When God is on our side there is no cause for despair." or "Do not despair, have faith in God" or "Don’t despair, in God we trust") as a motto since 1849. It is taken from the Odes of Horace, Book 1, Ode 7, line 27.

These arms were assumed, so there is no official blazon. These arms were generally seen only embossed or printed in monochrome, so the usual blazon was "Argent, a sextant sable", however when used on street furniture various colours were used, often depending on what was available to the painter.

Argent a sextant Sable on a chief Azure two keys wards upwards and outwards in saltire Argent between as many mitres of the last, both enfiled with a ducal coronet Or

For crest: On a wreath Argent and Azure a lymphad Sable, the sail Azure charged with the cross of St Cuthbert Argent flying flags Argent charged with a cross Gules.

For supporters: On a mount Or, on either side a lion Argent that on the dexter side supporting an anchor and the sinister a pickaxe.

As a motto: Nil desperandum auspice Deo

For crest: On a wreath Argent and Azure, on a mount Vert, in front of a long cross pommy issuant Gules the head interlaced with an orle Argent a boar passant Sable armed and langued Gules.

For supporters: On either side a lion Argent, that on the dexter side gorged with a collar gemel enclosing six mullets, three being manifest, Gules, and standing on an anchor fesswise the flukes inward Or, that on the sinister gorged with a collar gemel Sable enclosing six ears of wheat, three being manifest, proper, standing on a miner's pick fesswise the head inward Or.

For a badge: A fountain fimbriated Or and charged with a quadrant Sable.

As a motto: Nil desperandum auspice Deo

Although the grant of 1974 was made to the Council of the Borough of Sunderland and its successors regardless of their names, elevation to city status in 1992 was celebrated with a new grant of arms, which city officials requested had "not as much white" as previous arms.

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