A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Couchman family of England.
Reg. 4090 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
cinquefoilHope and joy
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 cinquefoils two and one betw. nine crosses crosslet ar”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Couchman Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Couchman arms are recorded
The Couchman 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 Couchman 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 Couchman Family in England
The surname Couchman is an occupational name that originated in England during the Middle Ages. It was traditionally given to someone who worked as a coachman, a person responsible for driving or maintaining horse-drawn carriages. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the historic city of York. Records confirm that members of the Couchman family were living there by 1620, a time when York was a bustling center of trade and religious importance in Northern England. As the name became hereditary, it spread from these early urban roots into various regions, reflecting the movement of skilled workers who provided essential transportation services in a society that relied entirely on horses and wagons for travel.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Couch
Derived from the Old French word for a bed or couch.
This name
CouchmanAn occupational name for a maker of beds or a mattress stuffer.
also spelled
Couchmen
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
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cross symbolChristian faith and service
cinquefoilHope and joy
cross symbolChristian faith and service
cinquefoilHope and joy
