A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cookman family of England.
Reg. 0170 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Erm. an eagle displ. az. ducally gorged or, and charged on the breast with a fleur-de-lis of the last”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Cookman Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Cookman arms are recorded
The Cookman 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 Cookman 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 Cookman Family in England
The surname Cookman is an occupational name that originated in medieval England, serving as a descriptive title for someone who worked as a cook or managed a kitchen for a noble household. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the historic city of York. Records confirm that members of the Cookman family were living in this region by 1620, a time when York was a major center for trade and religious life in Northern England. As the name spread, it became associated with families who often held positions of service or local influence within their communities. The transition from a professional description to a permanent hereditary surname reflects the common practice of identifying individuals by their trade during the Middle Ages.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Coc
Old English term for a cook or someone who prepares food.
This name
CookmanAn occupational surname denoting a servant or employee who worked as a cook.
also spelled
Cokeman
Kookman
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
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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
