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Celtic Symbols — Complete Guide with Copy Paste (Knots, Crosses, Runes)

·11 min read

Celtic symbols are among the most visually striking and spiritually rich symbol systems in human history. From the intricate knotwork adorning medieval manuscripts to the towering high crosses of Ireland and Scotland, these symbols carry deep meanings about life, death, eternity, and the natural world. This comprehensive guide covers every major category of Celtic symbols — knots, crosses, spirals, Ogham script, and more — with symbols you can copy and paste.

Copy Celtic Symbols

☘🍀☤⚜✠☩◬☸🔮🔱🝓☊

Traditional Celtic knotwork and crosses are complex designs without single Unicode characters. The symbols above are commonly used digital approximations. The shamrock ☘ and four-leaf clover 🍀 are the most recognized Celtic symbols in Unicode.

Celtic Knots

Celtic knots are the defining visual element of Celtic art. They feature continuous, interwoven lines with no beginning and no end — symbolizing the eternal cycle of life, death, and rebirth. The intricate patterns also represent the interconnectedness of all things.

Key types of Celtic knots include:

For a deep dive into knotwork, see our dedicated Celtic Knot Meaning guide.

The Celtic Cross

The Celtic cross combines a traditional Christian cross with a circle intersecting the crossbeam. The circle represents the sun, eternity, and the endless love of God. Legend credits Saint Patrick with creating the Celtic cross by combining the Christian cross with the pagan sun cross to help convert the Irish.

The earliest surviving Celtic crosses date to the 8th century and can be found throughout Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and parts of England. The most famous examples include the High Cross of Kells and the Cross of the Scriptures at Clonmacnoise.

Common cross-related symbols you can copy:

✝✞✟✠☩☨☦

Celtic Spirals

Spiral designs are among the oldest Celtic symbols, found on Neolithic stone carvings at Newgrange (circa 3200 BCE) — older than the Egyptian pyramids. The spiral represents growth, evolution, and the cyclical nature of life.

🌀◔◎☁

Ogham — The Celtic Tree Alphabet

Ogham is an early medieval alphabet used to write the early Irish language. Each letter is associated with a tree or plant, and the script consists of strokes along a central line. Ogham inscriptions are found on standing stones across Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, dating from the 4th to 7th centuries CE.

Some Ogham letters and their tree associations:

The Claddagh Symbol

The Claddagh is a traditional Irish symbol featuring two hands holding a heart topped with a crown. Each element has a meaning: the hands represent friendship, the heart represents love, and the crown represents loyalty. It originated in the fishing village of Claddagh in Galway, Ireland, in the 17th century.

How it is worn matters:

Other Important Celtic Symbols

Related Symbol Guides