A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Acock family of England.
Reg. 4439 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ar. a fesse betw. three fleurs-de-lis gu”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Acock Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Acock arms are recorded
The Acock arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Acock arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Acock Family in England
The surname Acock is a patronymic name, which means it likely originated as a way to identify a person as the son of someone named Acock or Aco. This given name was common in early medieval England and likely derived from Old English or Old Norse roots. By the year 1620, historical records confirm that members of the Acock family were well-established in the city of York. During this period, York was a bustling center of trade and religion, and families living there were often involved in local commerce or skilled crafts. Because surnames were still becoming standardized during the seventeenth century, the spelling of the name sometimes shifted in local documents as officials recorded it based on how it sounded. These early ancestors in York helped build the foundation for the family name, living through a time of significant social change in Northern England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Adam
Hebrew name meaning son of the red earth.
This name
AcockA diminutive form of the name Adam, often used as a term of endearment.
also spelled
Acok
Acoke
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1997
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records
The National Archives, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
