Arms were granted to the new county borough in 1912. They were made up of devices previously used by the constituent six towns, although only Burslem actually received a grant to use arms.

Description of the City Arms:
"Argent [silver], a cross gules, fretty or [fretted with gold], between in the first quarter a representation of the Portland Vase; in the second a camel kneeling proper, charged on the body with an escutcheon argent [silver shield], thereon a cross gules [red cross]; in the third an eagle displayed sable; and in the fourth a scythe also proper, on a chief of the second a boar's head erased between two Stafford Knots of the third.
Crest - on a wreath of the colours, a Potter of ancient Egypt at his wheel argent."
[granted 1912]

The Staffordshire Knots in the top panel were taken from the Tunstall Arms.

The Boar's head, in the top panel, was taken from the Stoke-upon-Trent (Stoke Town) Arms (The Arms of the Copeland Family).

The Portland Vase (top left quadrant) was taken from the Burslem Arms.

The Fretty Cross appears on the Arms of the town of Fenton.

The Hanley Arms provided the Dromedary Camel (top right quadrant) [Crest of the Ridgway Family].

The Eagle (bottom left quadrant) was taken from the Longton Arms [Crest of James Glover].

The Sythe (bottom right quadrant) [emblem of the Sneyd family]  is taken from both the unauthorised Tunstall and Burslem Arms.

The Egyptian Potter at his wheel represents the pottery industry.