The coat of arms of USS ELLIOT (DD 967) serves as a heraldic remembrance of the ship's namesake, Lieutenant Commander Arthur James Elliot, II. The red, white, and blue partitions of the shield are patterned after the insignia of Lieutenant Commander Elliot's command, River Squadron FIFTY-SEVEN. Red is the heraldic symbol of courage, zeal, and leadership; white symbolizes integrity; blue represents devotion and perseverance. The unsheathed sword is symbolic of command, and its position on the shield, point downward, is significant of death in combat.

The crest, composed of a mainmast and mainsail, symbolizes the Elliot family's long association with the nautical heritage of their native state of Maine. Generations of the family engaged in the shipbuilding and sailing trades, including Lieutenant Commander Elliot's paternal grandfather and namesake Arthur James Elliot, whose shipbuilding firm launched the last five-masted schooner ever built.

The pine tree emblazoned on the sail is the symbol of the state of Maine.

The ship's motto, "Courage, Honor, Integrity", is representative of those values which characterized Lieutenant Commander Elliot throughout his career. The motto serves as both a guide and an inspiration for the men who will serve in USS ELLIOT throughout her commissioned life.