ARMS: Gules on a Fesse wavy between in chief a Lion passant guardant Argent and in base a Herefordshire Bull's Head caboshed proper a Bar wavy Azure.
CREST: On a Wreath of the Colours a demi Lion rampant Gules holding in the sinister claw a Fleece Or.
SUPPORTERS: On the dexter side a Lion guardant Or gorged with a Wreath of Hops fructed proper and on the sinister a Talbot Argent gorged with a Collar Or charged with three Apples proper.

Motto 'PULCHRA TERRA DEI DONUM' - This fair land is the gift of God.
Granted 28th February 1946, to the former Herefordshire County Council. Transferred to the present Herefordshire County Council by Order in Council in 1997.

In 1974 Herefordshire was merged with neighbouring Worcestershire to form the relatively short-lived County of Hereford and Worcester. On 1st April 1998 it was split out again, in the form of a unitary authority, with broadly the same borders as before.

The red background is taken form the arms of the City of Hereford and also represents the red earth of Herefordshire. The silver lion is from the arms of the City of Hereford, and in base is a Herefordshire Bull's head. The silver and blue wave represents the River Wye.
The crest is based on the arms of the Borough of Leominster, which feature a rampant lion holding a lamb and is a reference to the importance of agriculture to the county.
The gold Lion is that of England, differenced by a garland of hops around his neck. The talbot is taken from the arms of the Talbot family, Marcher Lords of Shrewsbury and Viscounts of Hereford. For difference he wears a gold collar charged with apples, an important product of the county.

ARMS: Gules three Lions passant guardant in pale Argent on a Bordure Azure ten Saltires of the second.
CREST: On a Wreath of the Colours a Lion passant guardant Argent holding in the dexter paw a Sword erect proper hilt and pomel Or.
SUPPORTERS: On either side a Lion ram­pant guardant Argent gorged with a Collar Azure charged with three Buckles Or.

Motto 'INVICTAE FIDELITATIS PRAEMIUM' - Reward for faithfulness unconquered.
Arms recorded (without bordure) at the Visitations of 1569 and 1634. Arms augmented and Crest and Supporters granted 14th September 1645.

The City of Hereford Charter Trustees became Hereford Town Council on 1st April 2000, when Hereford became a Parish Council. On 9th October 2000 the Queen reinstated the status of City on Hereford and the parish council took the title of Hereford City Council.

Hereford bore on an early seal the Royal Arms of Richard I, who gave the City its first Royal Charter in 1189. It seems to have coloured the lions silver for the purpose of creating a distinctive (but unauthorized) coat of arms. The entire remainder of the design dates from 1645 at which time England was in a state of civil war. The City of Hereford supported the King and was garrisoned by Royalist troops. The garrison was very small and a large force of Scottish troops under the command of Leslie, Earl of Leven, arrived in Hereford. However, the citizens of Hereford joined with the soldiers and did the duties of soldiers so nobly that they kept the Cromwellian troops at bay for approximately five weeks. There was no penetration of the City defenses at any time by the Scottish troops whose sole achievement of destroying one span of the old bridge over the Wye and dislodging a few stones from the City walls. At the end of five weeks, the Scots gave up trying to capture the City and left. Leaving the Royal Standard flying in triumph over the City. King Charles I, on hearing of this was delighted and full of praise for the citizens of Hereford. He visited the City in order to thank them personally for their success. He dined one night at the Bishop’s Palace and at the end of this dinner he is alleged to have made the Grant of Arms, which has resulted in the Coat of Arms, which the City of Hereford now possesses. The lions surrounded by saltires, or St Andrew's Crosses, represent the Royalist forces hemmed in by the insurgent Scots, and the buckles on the collars of the supporting lions are from the arms of the Earl of Leven. The lion and sword of the crest signify loyalty to and defense of the Crown, and is rare in civic heraldry. Of even greater rarity is the barred peer’s helm supporting the crest found only in the arms of one other municipal authority in England – The City of London. King Charles I also gave the motto. The terms of the grant, dated 1645, printed in full in Fox-Davies's Book of Public Arms, set forth that,

"Ther hath not any Citty since this unnaturall Rebellion Exprest greater fidelity & Courage then ye Citty of herefford in Continuing there alleaganc & resisting ye many attempts of ye rebells but ye greatness of there loyallty Courages & undaunted resolution did then most eminently appeare when being straitly beseiged for ye space of 5 weeks by a powerfull army of Rebellious Scotts & having noe hopes of releife they Joyning with garison & doeing ye duty of souldiers then defended themselves & repelled ther fury & assaults with such singular constansy & resolution & with soe great distinction of ye beseidges that they are therby become ye wonder of ther Neighboring garisons & may be an Example to all other Citties & therfore doe justly deserve such caracters of honor as may be certified to posterity."