The Wake knot or Ormond knot is an English

heraldic knot A heraldic knot (referred to in heraldry as simply a knot) is a knot, unknot, or design incorporating a knot used in European heraldry. While a given knot can be used on more than one family's achievement of arms, the family on whose coat the kno ...

used historically as an

heraldic badge A heraldic badge, emblem, impresa, device, or personal device worn as a badge indicates allegiance to, or the property of, an individual, family or corporate body. Medieval forms are usually called a livery badge, and also a cognizance. They are ...

by the Wake family, lords of the manor of Bourne in Lincolnshire and also by the Butler family,

Earls of Ormond Earldom of Ormond may refer to: *Earl of Ormond (Scotland) Earl of Ormond was a title twice created in the Peerage of Scotland, both times for members of the Douglas family. The related title Marquess of Ormond was created twice in the Peerage ...

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 and

Bourne Academy Bourne Academy is an 11 to 18 mixed comprehensive school and a co-educational academy located in Bourne, Lincolnshire, England. It is one of two secondary schools, both co-educational, in the town, the other being Bourne Grammar School. Bourn ...

, Lincolnshire where the Wakes were lords of the manor. The crest of the arms of the

Isle of Ely The Isle of Ely () is a historic region around the city of Ely in Cambridgeshire, England. Between 1889 and 1965, it formed an administrative county. Etymology Its name has been said to mean "island of eels", a reference to the creatures th ...

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 Hereward the Wake (Traditional pronunciation /ˈhɛ.rɛ.ward/, modern pronunciation /ˈhɛ.rɪ.wəd/) (1035 – 1072) (also known as Hereward the Outlaw or Hereward the Exile) was an Anglo-Saxon nobleman and a leader of local resista ...

.W. C. Scott-Giles, ''Civic Heraldry of England and Wales'', 2nd edition, London, 1953 The crest of No. 2 Squadron RAF includes a Wake knot; its motto is Hereward.

References

Decorative knots Heraldic knots {{Knot-stub