A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Couse family of England.
Reg. 3258 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
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Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Ar. three hedgehogs sa”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Couse Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Couse arms are recorded
The Couse 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 Couse 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 Couse Family in England
The family name Couse has deep roots in the historic city of York, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1620. During this period, York was a bustling center of trade and religious activity, and families like the Couses were often integrated into the local merchant or artisan classes that defined the city’s economy. The name itself likely evolved from regional dialects or occupational descriptions common in Northern England, reflecting the way surnames were often adopted based on a person’s trade or their specific location within a parish. As the family established itself in the seventeenth century, they became part of the social fabric of Yorkshire, navigating the significant political and religious shifts that characterized life in England at the time. By settling in such a prominent administrative hub, early generations of the Couse family were positioned to participate in the growth and development of the region for many decades to follow.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cousin
Derived from the Old French term for a kinsman or relative.
This name
CouseAn occupational or descriptive surname referring to a person who was a kinsman or relative.
also spelled
Cowse
Cows
Cou
Related arms
Cou, or Coueyvariant spelling
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
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Account Rolls, 1620
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
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