A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Brocket family of England.
Reg. 2945 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Or, a cross patonce sa”
HertfordBrocket Hall · Hertford, c. 1620
Where the Brocket Arms Were Recorded
Hertford
Map of England showing where the Brocket arms are recorded
The Brocket arms were recorded in Hertford, c. 1620.
Hertfordshire lay just north of London and filled with families who had made money in the City. Buying an estate within a day's ride was the usual next step, and an estate brought arms with it.
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 Brocket 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 Hertford.
Origin & History of the Brocket Family in England
The family name Brocket is rooted in the English landscape, with its origins tied to the Old English word for a young stag. Early records confirm that members of the family were well-established in the county of Hertfordshire by the year 1620. During this period, the family held significant influence in the region, particularly around the town of Brocket Hall. Historical documents from the seventeenth century show that they were active participants in local governance and land management. As the family grew, their presence helped shape the social and agricultural character of the area. By settling in Hertfordshire, they became part of a long tradition of families who defined the local history of the English countryside for many generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
brocc
Old English or Gaelic term referring to a badger.
This name
BrocketA diminutive form indicating a young badger or a person resembling one.
also spelled
Brokett
Broket
Related arms
Broketvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Cussans, John Edwin, History of Hertfordshire, 1870
Victoria County History, A History of the County of Hertford, 1912
The National Archives, Prerogative Court of Canterbury and Related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers, 1620
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cross symbolChristian faith and service
cross symbolChristian faith and service
