A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Coode family of England.
Reg. 1420 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Ar. a chev. gu. betw. three moorcocks sa. membered, wattled, and jelloped of the second quartering gu. three crescents or”
CornwallMorval · Cornwall, c. 1620
Where the Coode Arms Were Recorded
Cornwall
Map of England showing where the Coode arms are recorded
The Coode arms were recorded in Cornwall, c. 1620.
Cornwall was a county apart, with its own language and its own tight-knit gentry. Tin and the sea made money there, and families who made it bought land, which is what brought arms with it.
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 Coode 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 Cornwall.
Origin & History of the Coode Family in England
The family name Coode has deep roots in the rugged landscape of Cornwall, where members of the family were firmly established by the early seventeenth century. While the exact origin of the name remains a subject of historical debate, many experts believe it evolved from a descriptive nickname or a localized Cornish place name. By 1620, the Coode family had become prominent landowners and local figures in the region, particularly around the areas of Morval and St. Austell. They were deeply integrated into the social and economic life of the Cornish countryside, often serving as local officials and participating in the management of regional estates. This long-standing presence in Cornwall suggests that the family played an active role in the development of their community for generations before they began to appear more frequently in official parish registers and legal documents.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Coda
An Old English or Germanic term meaning a tail or end.
This name
CoodeA topographical name for someone who lived at the end of a settlement or boundary.
also spelled
Cod
Related arms
Codvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Gilbert, Davies. The Parochial History of Cornwall, Founded on the Manuscript Histories of Mr. Hals and Mr. Tonkin. 1838
Henderson, Charles. Essays in Cornish History. 1935
Polsue, Joseph. A Complete Parochial History of the County of Cornwall. 1867
The National Archives, Kew. Prerogative Court of Canterbury and Related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
