A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bocking family of England.
Reg. 8473 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cross symbolChristian faith and service
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 wavy betw. six crosses crosslet fitchée gu”
SuffolkBucknam Castle · Suffolk, c. 1620
Where the Bocking Arms Were Recorded
Suffolk
Map of England showing where the Bocking arms are recorded
The Bocking arms were recorded in Suffolk, c. 1620.
Suffolk was wool country, and its cloth towns were among the wealthiest in England. Clothier families bought manors with their profits, and holding a manor was the ordinary route to a coat of 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 Bocking 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 Suffolk.
Origin & History of the Bocking Family in England
The family name Bocking originates from a place name in Essex, specifically the village of Bocking near Braintree. During the Middle Ages, people often adopted the name of their home village as a way to identify themselves when they moved to new areas. By the early 17th century, members of the family had established a notable presence in the county of Suffolk. Records from 1620 show that the family was well-integrated into the local community, participating in the agricultural and social life of the region. As the family grew, they became part of the fabric of Suffolk history, living through a period of significant religious and political change in England. Their migration from Essex to Suffolk reflects the common movement of families seeking new opportunities in neighboring counties during the early modern period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Boc
Old English term referring to a beech tree or a book.
This name
BockingDerived from a place name meaning the people or settlement of the beech tree dwellers.
also spelled
Boking
Bockyng
Related arms
Bokingvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Suffolk Archives, Ipswich Probate Records, 1620
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
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
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cross symbolChristian faith and service
