Map of England showing where the Cody arms are recorded
The Cody arms were recorded in Great Ellingham, 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 Cody 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 Cody Family in England
The surname Cody has roots that stretch back to the medieval period, primarily emerging from the Gaelic name Mac Óda, which translates to the son of Odo. While the name is famously associated with Irish ancestry, the presence of the family in York by 1620 suggests a long history of movement and settlement across the British Isles. During the early seventeenth century, families often relocated to growing urban centers like York to find new work in trade or local industries. This migration helped the name transition from its original Gaelic form into the standardized English spelling used today. By integrating into the social and economic life of northern England, these early family members helped establish the name as a permanent part of the local community long before the era of modern record-keeping.
Cody Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Cuidightheach
An Irish Gaelic term meaning helpful or a helper.
This name
CodyDerived from an Irish surname meaning descendant of the helpful person.
also spelled
Cody
Codie
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Black, George Fraser, The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History, 1946
MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland, 1985
York City Archives, York Freemen’s Register, 1272–1759
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
cross symbolChristian faith and service
