Map of England showing where the Cohen arms are recorded
The Cohen 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 Cohen 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 Cohen Family in England
The name Cohen is one of the oldest surnames in history, originating from the Hebrew word for priest. Traditionally, it identifies families who trace their lineage back to the biblical Aaron and the priesthood of ancient Israel. By the time members of the family were documented in York in 1620, the name had already been carried across many different countries and cultures for centuries. During the Middle Ages, families with this name often served as community leaders or scholars within their local populations. When these individuals settled in cities like York, they were often part of a small but vital network of families who maintained their distinct heritage while adapting to life in a new land. Their presence in early seventeenth-century records reflects a long history of migration and survival that spans across generations and borders.
Cohen Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Kohen
A Hebrew term referring to a priest or religious official.
This name
CohenAn occupational surname for individuals descended from the priestly class of ancient Israel.
also spelled
Cohn
Coen
Related arms
Splatt-Collinsrecorded with Cohen, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Beider, Alexander, A Dictionary of Jewish Surnames from the Russian Empire, 1993
Hyams, Paul R., King, Lords, and Peasants in Medieval England: The Common Law of Villeinage in the Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries, 1996
The National Archives, Exchequer: King's Remembrancer: Accounts, Various, E 101
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
