A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Colbeck family of England.
Reg. 1723 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
dolphinSwiftness, charity and love
Colours
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)
“Or, two bars wavy and in chief three whales' heads erect and erased sa”
BedfordshireBedfordshire, c. 1620
Where the Colbeck Arms Were Recorded
Bedfordshire
Map of England showing where the Colbeck arms are recorded
The Colbeck arms were recorded in Bedfordshire, 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 England when the Colbeck 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 Bedfordshire.
Origin & History of the Colbeck Family in England
The surname Colbeck is of English origin and is primarily classified as a locational name. It is believed to have originated from a small settlement or a specific geographical feature, likely derived from the Old Norse words "kollr," meaning a hill or summit, and "bekkr," meaning a stream. By the early 17th century, the family had established a clear presence in the English county of Bedfordshire. Parish records from 1620 confirm that members of the Colbeck family were living and working in this region during the reign of King James I. At that time, most families with this name were involved in agriculture or local trades, living in rural communities where they were documented in church registers for baptisms, marriages, and burials. This period marked a time of stability for the family as they became integrated into the local social fabric of the English Midlands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Kaldr Bekkr
Old Norse words for cold and stream or brook.
This name
ColbeckA habitational name for someone who lived near a cold stream or brook.
also spelled
Colbek
Colbech
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
Bedfordshire Archives, Parish Register Transcripts for Bedfordshire, 1600–1650
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dolphinSwiftness, charity and love
dolphinSwiftness, charity and love
