Söderköping

Template:Sweden SÖDERKÖPING

Province (Landskap): Östergötland
County (Län): Östergötlands län
Additions : 1952 Drothem, Skönberga; 1971 Aspveden (1952 Gårdeby , Västra Husby, Östra Ryd); 1974 Stegeborg (1952 Börrum, Mogata, Sankt Anna, Skällvik)

Official blazon=

I blått fält tre balkar av silver, åtföljda av åtta sexuddiga stjärnor av guld ordnade 1.3.3.1.

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially granted in 1946.

The arms are based on the secret seal of the town known from the 1430s. The oldest seal, known since 1290, showed a lion. The origin is not very clear. The lion in the oldest seal is probably taken from the arms of the Folkungar dynasty, Kings of Sweden at the time. The wavy bends may have been the background of the seal (see f.e. Göteborg) and due to the smaller size of the seal, the lion was omitted. Whether the original seals showed stars or hearts is not clear. During the centuries the city arms have also been shown with a lion as a supporter.

A later, early 20th century, theory stated that the arms simply show the many rivers in the area and the stars represent the different parishes. This has no historical significance.