A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Brocke family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 1738 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. à un annelet d'arg. C.: l'annelet, sommé de plumes de paon; ou, une colonne de gu., passée dans un annelet d'arg. et sommée de plumes de paon. (Conf. de la nob. du St.-Empire, 18 sept. 1743. M. ét le 12 avril 1838) Coupé: au 1 parti: a. de gu. à trois roses mal-ordonnées d'arg.; b. d'azur au lion de gu., cour. d'or; au 2 parti d'azur et de gu., à une étoile d'or, enfermée dans un annelet du même, br. sur le parti. Brl. de gu. et d'arg. C.: une colonne de gu., cour. d'or, sommée d'une queue de paon au nat.; la colonne ch. d'une étoile d'arg., le fût de ladite colonne passée dans un annelet d'arg., br. sur ladite étoile. L. d'arg. et de gu.”
GermanyBrunswick, c. 1765
Where the Brocke Arms Were Recorded
Brunswick
Map of Germany showing where the Brocke arms are recorded
The Brocke arms were recorded in Brunswick, c. 1765.
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 Germany in this period.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Brocke arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
In the Holy Roman Empire, coats of arms were often granted to individuals by the Emperor or his representatives. These arms were then passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants of the original holder. Younger branches of a family usually kept the same shield design without needing to change it, as the arms belonged to the entire lineage.
Granting authority
The Holy Roman Emperor held the sole power to grant new coats of arms throughout his vast imperial territories.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal imperial grant or by proving their noble status to the authorities.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Imperial Chancery registers, which began keeping formal records of such honors during the Middle Ages.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Germany.
Origin & History of the Brocke Family in Germany
The family name Brocke originates from the Low German word *brook*, which refers to a marshy area or a small stream. In medieval Germany, people often received surnames based on the landscape where they lived or worked. Families taking this name likely resided near wetlands or low-lying meadows in the northern regions. By the mid-eighteenth century, the name was well-established in the city of Brunswick. Records confirm that members of the Brocke family were active citizens in this region by 1765. During this era, Brunswick served as a significant center for trade and administration within the Holy Roman Empire. The family likely participated in the local economy as craftsmen or merchants, contributing to the steady growth of the city during the Enlightenment period.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Gu. on a lozenge or, a chev. az”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Brocke Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Brocke arms are recorded
The Brocke 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 Germany when the Brocke 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 Brocke Family in England
The surname Brocke is rooted in the Old English word for a badger, which was a common nickname for someone thought to share the animal's traits or who lived near a known badger sett. By the early 17th century, the family had established a clear presence in the historic city of York, a major northern hub where trade and local governance provided opportunities for families to settle and grow. Records from 1620 show members of the Brocke family living within this bustling urban environment, likely participating in the local economy of the time. Because York was a center for craftsmen and merchants, it is probable that these early ancestors were involved in the skilled trades that defined the city’s character during the Stuart period. Their transition from rural origins to the structured life of a city like York reflects the broader movement of families seeking stability and community in England during the early 1600s.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Brok
Middle Low German term for a swamp, marsh, or wetland.
This name
BrockeA topographic surname for someone who lived near a marshy area or brook.
also spelled
Broke
Broccke
Brockee
Brok
Brooke
Related arms
Bettendorffsimilar arms
Boucher (le) de Casteletsimilar arms
de Bourbonsimilar arms
Brockvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Stadtarchiv Braunschweig, Bürger- und Einwohnerverzeichnisse, 1765
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ringFidelity, and a promise kept
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
