A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Coucke family of Belgium.
Reg. 1640 · Belgian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De sa. au chev. d'arg., acc. en chef de deux chiens du même, coll. de gu., bordé et bouclé d'or, et en p. d'un cor-de-chasse d'arg., lié et vir. d'or.”
BelgiumGand, c. 1737
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Map of Belgium showing where the Coucke arms are recorded
The Coucke arms were recorded in Gand, c. 1737.
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 Belgium in this period.
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
1711–1740
Reigning in Belgium when the Coucke arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Belgium
In Belgium, a coat of arms is considered personal property that is passed down through the male line to legitimate descendants. Families often use the same shield design across generations to show their shared heritage. If a branch of the family wants to change the design, they must apply for an official update to their specific version of the arms.
Granting authority
The Conseil héraldique is the official body that regulates and approves all coats of arms in Belgium.
How they got arms
Families obtain their coats of arms through formal royal grants or by confirming their historical right to use existing designs.
Where arms were recorded
All approved coats of arms are officially recorded in the public registers of the Conseil héraldique since 1844.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Belgium.
Origin & History of the Coucke Family in Belgium
The surname Coucke finds its roots in the Dutch-speaking regions of Flanders, particularly within the historic city of Ghent. The name is widely considered to be a descriptive nickname derived from the Middle Dutch word "coke" or "cocke," which referred to a cook or someone who prepared food. By the year 1737, records confirm that members of the Coucke family were well-established residents of Ghent, a city that was then a major center for the textile trade and urban commerce. Families during this era often lived in tight-knit neighborhoods near the city’s famous canals, where they participated in the local guild system to secure their livelihoods. As the family grew, they became deeply woven into the social and economic fabric of the region, reflecting the typical migration and settlement patterns of working-class citizens in eighteenth-century Belgium.
Coucke Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Cook
An individual who prepares food for consumption.
This name
CouckeA professional occupational surname for a person who worked as a cook.
also spelled
Couk
Cook
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Debrabandere, Frans. Woordenboek van de familienamen in België en Noord-Frankrijk, 2003
State Archives in Belgium (Rijksarchief te Gent), Parochieregisters van Gent (Doop-, huwelijks- en overlijdensakten), 1737
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
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
