A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cottingham family of England.
Reg. 1413 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Sa. three hinds countertrippant ar”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Cottingham Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Cottingham arms are recorded
The Cottingham 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 Cottingham 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 Cottingham Family in England
The surname Cottingham is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. It is derived from the village of Cottingham located in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The name itself comes from Old English, combining the name of a local chieftain named Cotta with the suffix "ingaham," which refers to a homestead or settlement belonging to his people. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the city of York. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the family were active in the region during this period, likely participating in the local trade and civic life that defined the city at the time. As the family moved away from their ancestral village, they carried the name with them, helping it spread across northern England and eventually into broader historical records.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cotinga
Old English personal name meaning son of the followers of Cota.
This name
CottinghamRefers to a homestead or village belonging to the people of Cota.
also spelled
Cottingam
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names. 1960
Reaney, P.H. A Dictionary of British Surnames. 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York. York Diocesan Probate Records
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stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
