A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Coke family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 8085 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti de gu. et d'azur; à trois aigles d'arg., 2 et 1. C.: une autruche d'arg., tenant en son bec un fer-à-cheval d'or et posé sur un chapeau de tournoi d'azur, retr. d'herm. S.: deux autruches d'arg.; celle à dextre coll. d'une couronne partie de gu. et d'azur, enchaînée d'un lien de gu.; celle à sen. coll. d'une couronne partie d'azur et de gu., enchaînée d'un lien d'azur. D.: PRUDENS QUI PATIENS [Une autre branche, créée baron Lovel en 1728 et comte de Leicester en 1744, au port des mêmes armes, s'est ét. en 1759.]”
Francec. 1837
Where the Coke Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Coke arms are recorded
The Coke arms were recorded in France, c. 1837.
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.
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 Coke Family in France
The family name Coke traces its early roots in France to the historic region of Bretagne, where members of the family were documented as residents by 1837. During this period, the name was often associated with families living in rural or coastal communities where local records began to track individual households more consistently. While the name itself has linguistic ties to various European traditions, its presence in Bretagne suggests a history linked to the social and economic shifts occurring in western France during the early nineteenth century. These early family members likely participated in the local agricultural or maritime industries that defined the region at the time. By examining regional census data and civil registrations from this era, historians can see how the family integrated into the local population while maintaining their distinct identity. This period serves as a foundational chapter for the family in France, marking their transition into the documented history of the Breton landscape.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Gu. three crescents and a canton or”
DerbyTrusley · Derby, c. 1620
Where the Coke Arms Were Recorded
Derby
Map of England showing where the Coke arms are recorded
The Coke arms were recorded in Derby, c. 1620.
Derbyshire had lead mines in its hills and good grazing in its valleys. Both made steady money, and families who made it bought manors, which is what put their names into the heraldic records.
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 Coke 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 Derby.
Origin & History of the Coke Family in England
The surname Coke has deep roots in English history, emerging as a descriptive occupational name derived from the Middle English word for a cook. By the early seventeenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the town of Derby. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Coke family were active participants in the local community during this period. As the family grew in influence, they became deeply involved in the civic and legal life of the region. Their history reflects the broader movement of families who transitioned from traditional trade roles into positions of local governance and land ownership. This evolution helped the family name become a permanent fixture in the social landscape of Derbyshire for generations to come.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
coc
Old French term for a cook or a seller of cooked food.
This name
CokeAn occupational surname for someone who worked as a professional cook.
also spelled
Cook
Koke
Cokkes
Cookes
Related arms
Cookvariant spelling
Cockvariant spelling
Cockevariant spelling
Cokkesvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Morbihan, État civil et registres paroissiaux
Archives départementales du Finistère, Recensement de la population
Le Gall, Erwan, Une histoire de la Bretagne, 2017
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
