A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cockman family of England.
Reg. 8500 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
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)
“Ar. three gamecocks gu. crested and wattled sa”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Cockman Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Cockman arms are recorded
The Cockman 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 England when the Cockman 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 Cockman Family in England
The family name Cockman is believed to have originated in England as a descriptive occupational surname. During the medieval period, surnames were often created based on a person’s trade or their role within a local community. The name likely refers to a "cockman," which was a historical term for a servant or an attendant who looked after fighting cocks or managed poultry for a manor. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the historic city of York. Records confirm that members of the Cockman family were living in York by 1620, placing them in a bustling urban center known for its trade guilds and religious history. As these individuals moved through the streets of York, they carried a name that connected them to the agricultural and domestic traditions of the English countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Coc
Old English term for a male bird or a rooster.
This name
CockmanAn occupational surname for a servant or attendant who worked for a man named Cock.
also spelled
Cockeman
Cokeman
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
