A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Becking family of England.
Reg. 7499 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Quarterly, or and gu. a bend sa”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Becking Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Becking arms are recorded
The Becking 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 Becking 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 Becking Family in England
The surname Becking originates from Northern Europe and carries a history deeply connected to the landscape and local geography. The name is likely topographic in nature, derived from the Old English or Germanic word "beck," which means a stream or a small brook. This suggests that the earliest members of the family were identified by their proximity to a specific water source or a valley where a stream flowed. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Becking family were established in the city of York. During this period, York was a significant center for trade and administration in Northern England. The presence of the family in such a prominent city indicates that they were likely involved in the local merchant class or skilled trades that supported the urban economy of the seventeenth century. As the family grew, they maintained their presence in the region, reflecting the steady migration patterns and social stability of families living in the North of England during the early modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Becca
Old English word meaning a mattock or a pickaxe.
This name
BeckingRefers to a dweller by a stream or a person who worked with a mattock.
also spelled
Bekking
Beking
Beckyng
Bekkinge
Related arms
* **Bekking**variant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
The National Archives, York City Archives: Chamberlains' Account Books, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
