A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cock family lines. Documented in 3 countries.
Reg. 7816 · Dutch, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à un cerf élancé d'or. C.: le cerf, iss.”
NetherlandsLeyde, c. 1815
Where the Cock Arms Were Recorded
Leyde
Map of Netherlands showing where the Cock arms are recorded
The Cock arms were recorded in Leyde, c. 1815.
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.
Region
Leyde
Town
Leyde
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Cock Arms
Hoge Raad van Adel
Photograph made by me · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Netherlands in this period.
William I of the Netherlands
Sovereign of the period
William I of the Netherlands
1815–1840
Reigning in Netherlands when the Cock arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Netherlands
In the Netherlands, coats of arms were often used by noble families and those who held specific public offices. These arms were passed down through the generations to legitimate descendants. Younger branches of a family usually kept the original design without needing to add special marks. This system ensured that the family identity remained clear and consistent over many years.
Granting authority
The Hoge Raad van Adel is the official body that regulates and manages noble titles and coats of arms in the Netherlands.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through official royal grants or by proving their long-standing historical use of the symbols.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms are officially recorded in the registers held by the Hoge Raad van Adel, which began its work in 1814.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Netherlands.
Origin & History of the Cock Family in Netherlands
The surname Cock has deep roots in the Low Countries, where it likely originated as a descriptive nickname for a person with a proud or strutting demeanor. By the time the family was firmly established in the city of Leiden in 1815, the name had already been part of the Dutch social fabric for centuries. During this period, Leiden was a bustling center of trade and industry, and families like the Cocks were often involved in the city’s famous textile production or local merchant guilds. The name was frequently recorded in official registers as the city grew and modernized under the new Kingdom of the Netherlands. These early ancestors were part of a society that valued record-keeping, which allows us to trace their presence through the transition from the Napoleonic era into the nineteenth century. As the family navigated life in Leiden, they contributed to the urban development of a city known for its university and its history of religious and intellectual freedom.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
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)
“Lozengy ar. and gu. on a fesse of the first three cocks of the second”
CornwallBodmin · Cornwall, c. 1620
Where the Cock Arms Were Recorded
Cornwall
Map of England showing where the Cock arms are recorded
The Cock arms were recorded in Cornwall, c. 1620.
Cornwall was a county apart, with its own language and its own tight-knit gentry. Tin and the sea made money there, and families who made it bought land, which is what 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 Netherlands when the Cock 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 Cornwall.
Origin & History of the Cock Family in England
The surname Cock is a classic example of an English occupational or descriptive name that emerged during the Middle Ages. In its earliest form, the name often functioned as a nickname for a person who displayed the proud or strutting characteristics of a rooster, or it served as a short version of names like Cockin or Wilcox. By the time the name became established in Cornwall during the early 17th century, families bearing this title were already well-integrated into the local social fabric of southwestern England. These early settlers in Cornwall likely worked as farmers, miners, or tradespeople, contributing to the rugged and industrious identity of the region. As the name spread through parish records and legal documents, it became a stable marker of identity for families who lived through the transition from the Elizabethan era into the Stuart period.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 cock gu. on a chief az. a crescent betw. two stars of the first”
Scotlandc. 1748
Where the Cock Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Cock arms are recorded
The Cock arms were recorded in Scotland, c. 1748.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh was the seat of Scotland's government, its courts and its heralds. Families with business there settled nearby, and being close to where arms were recorded is exactly why so many of them appear.
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 Scotland in this period.
George II of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George II of Great Britain
1727–1760
Reigning in Netherlands when the Cock arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Scotland
Scottish heraldry is unique because it treats a coat of arms as a piece of personal property protected by law. Only one person can own a specific design at any given time. When a family grows, the head keeps the original shield while other relatives must apply for their own distinct version with slight changes to prove their specific identity.
Granting authority
The Court of the Lord Lyon acts as the official body that regulates and controls all heraldic matters throughout Scotland.
How they got arms
Individuals obtain a legal right to their arms through a formal petition process that confirms their identity and family connection.
Where arms were recorded
All valid coats of arms are officially entered into the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings starting from 1672.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Scotland.
Origin & History of the Cock Family in Scotland
The surname Cock is a topographic name that likely originated from people who lived near a prominent landmark or a specific house sign featuring a rooster. In Scotland, the name appears in historical records as early as the medieval period, often associated with families living in the Lowlands. By the middle of the eighteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in Edinburgh. Records from 1748 show members of the Cock family participating in the city’s growing mercantile and professional life during a time of significant urban expansion. These early residents were part of a society transitioning through the Scottish Enlightenment, contributing to the local community as tradespeople and citizens in the capital. Over generations, the name became firmly rooted in the social fabric of the region, reflecting the broader patterns of migration and settlement that defined Scottish family history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Kock
A Middle Dutch term for a professional cook or chef.
This name
CockAn occupational surname originally denoting someone who worked as a cook.
also spelled
Kock
Coc
Kok
Cook
Coke
Related arms
Kockvariant spelling
Cokevariant spelling
Kokevariant spelling
Brownerecorded with Cock, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Erfgoed Leiden en Omstreken, Bevolkingsregister van Leiden (1815)
Nationaal Archief, Burgerlijke Stand van de provincie Zuid-Holland (1811–1815)
Leenders, K.A.H.W., Van den akker naar de stad: De ontwikkeling van familienamen in de Nederlanden (2005)
Van der Schaar, J., Woordenboek van voornamen en familienamen (1988)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
