A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cockayne family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 0073 · French, A–C
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
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'arg. à trois coqs de gu., crêtés et barbés de sa. (Cockayne); aux 2 et 3 d'arg. à deux fasces de sin. (Herthull.) C.: une tête et col de coq de gu., crêtée et barbée de sa. D.: VIRTUS IN ARDUIS.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Cockayne Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Cockayne arms are recorded
The Cockayne arms were recorded in France, c. 1725.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 France in this period.
Louis XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Cockayne arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of France.
Origin & History of the Cockayne Family in France
The family name Cockayne traces its roots in France to the historic region of Brittany, where members of the family were documented as early as 1725. The name likely originated as a descriptive term or a place name, reflecting the customs of naming families after their local geography or specific traits during the medieval period. By the eighteenth century, the family had established a presence in the social and administrative fabric of the Breton countryside. During this era, families in Brittany often lived in tight-knit rural communities where they contributed to the local agricultural economy and regional trade. The presence of the name in official parish registers from this time suggests that the family was well-integrated into the local population. As they moved through the generations, their history became closely tied to the shifting political landscape of western France, marking their transition from local inhabitants to a recognized part of the regional heritage.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
ErmineMeans: Dignity
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)
“Bendy of six gu. and erm”
DorsetshireDorsetshire, c. 1620
Where the Cockayne Arms Were Recorded
Dorsetshire
Map of England showing where the Cockayne arms are recorded
The Cockayne arms were recorded in Dorsetshire, c. 1620.
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 France when the Cockayne 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 Dorsetshire.
Origin & History of the Cockayne Family in England
The family name Cockayne has deep roots in the English landscape, emerging as a surname during the Middle Ages when people began adopting descriptive titles based on their homes or occupations. While the name is often linked to the mythical Land of Cockaigne, a medieval fantasy representing a place of extreme luxury and idleness, the family itself established a firm presence in the English countryside long before the seventeenth century. By the year 1620, historical records confirm that members of the Cockayne family were well-established in the county of Dorsetshire. During this period, families of this name were often involved in local land management and regional administration, which helped them integrate into the social fabric of southern England. Their migration and settlement patterns reflect the broader movement of families who sought to build stable lives through agriculture and local governance in the years leading up to the great migrations to the American colonies.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
coquina
Latin term for a kitchen or place where food is cooked.
This name
CockayneA locative surname for someone who lived near or worked in a kitchen or cookhouse.
also spelled
Cockaine
Cockain
Cokayne
Kokan
Related arms
Cokaynevariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1725
Jones, Michael, The Creation of Brittany: A Late Medieval State, 1988
Quéniart, Jean, La Bretagne au XVIIIe siècle, 2004
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
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
