In heraldry, the grasshopper is a small but highly expressive charge, traditionally linked with wisdom, nobility, resourcefulness, and forward movement. Its ability to leap great distances made it a natural emblem of enterprise, readiness, and social ascent, while its alert posture suggests vigilance and quick perception. In some older emblematic traditions, the grasshopper was also connected with music, summer, and the voice, because of its characteristic chirping. Unlike martial beasts such as the lion or boar, the grasshopper carries a subtler message: it celebrates agility, opportunity, and the intelligence to move at the right moment. The Parker Glossary of Heraldry includes historical heraldic terminology for insect charges, and broader context on heraldic animals can be found through The Heraldry Society.

A famous English example is the Gresham grasshopper, used by Sir Thomas Gresham, the Tudor merchant, financier, and founder of the Royal Exchange. The grasshopper became the badge and crest associated with the Gresham family and appears in connection with Gresham College and the historic commercial identity of the City of London. The emblem is traditionally explained as canting heraldry, playing on the name Gresham, but it also suited a family whose reputation rested on commercial skill, mobility, and good fortune. Images and institutional history can be explored through Gresham College and the Royal Exchange, where the grasshopper remains an enduring symbol of mercantile heritage.

As a heraldic charge, the grasshopper is usually shown in profile, often statant or prepared to spring, with long hind legs clearly visible. It may appear on the shield, but it is especially memorable as a crest or badge, where its distinctive silhouette can be recognized at once. In civic or institutional heraldry, it may suggest trade, alertness, prosperity, and energetic advancement. Its meaning can vary by period and family tradition, especially when used as a punning device, but it consistently conveys liveliness and purposeful motion. The grasshopper proves that heraldry does not depend only on grand animals. Even a tiny creature can carry a powerful message of enterprise, adaptability, and watchful ambition.