A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Copson family of England.
Reg. 6701 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
keyGuardianship, and the office of a steward
buckleFidelity, and a bond firmly held
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Or, in chief two keys, wards downward, and in base a double locked padlock az”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Copson Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Copson arms are recorded
The Copson 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 Copson 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 Copson Family in England
The surname Copson is primarily rooted in the northern regions of England, with historical evidence placing members of the family in the city of York as early as 1620. The name is generally considered a patronymic, meaning it was originally formed by combining a personal name with a suffix indicating descent. In this case, the name likely evolved from a variation of the name Cob or Jacob, combined with the suffix "son" to denote the son of that individual. During the seventeenth century, families in York were often involved in the city’s vibrant trade and guild systems, which helped establish the surname within local parish records. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of Yorkshire, contributing to the local workforce and community life during a period of significant change in Northern England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Jacob
Derived from the Hebrew name Yaakov meaning supplanter or held by heel.
This name
CopsonA patronymic surname meaning son of Cope, which is a medieval pet form of Jacob.
also spelled
Copsonne
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, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
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.
keyGuardianship, and the office of a steward
buckleFidelity, and a bond firmly held
keyGuardianship, and the office of a steward
buckleFidelity, and a bond firmly held
