A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Coward family of England.
Reg. 5295 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cinquefoilHope and joy
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Or, on two bars sa. three cinquefoils ar. two and one”
SomersetWells · Somerset, c. 1620
Where the Coward Arms Were Recorded
Somerset
Map of England showing where the Coward arms are recorded
The Coward arms were recorded in Somerset, c. 1620.
Somerset was rich farming country with a thick scattering of manor houses. Its gentry were numerous and long-settled, and a settled landed family almost always ended up with 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 Coward 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 Somerset.
Origin & History of the Coward Family in England
The surname Coward has deep roots in the English county of Somerset, where records confirm the family was well-established by the early seventeenth century. The name is occupational in origin, likely derived from the Middle English term cow-herd, which described a person who tended to cattle. During the medieval period, many people took their last names from the jobs they performed in their local villages. As these names became hereditary, they were passed down through generations of families living in the rural landscapes of the West Country. By 1620, the Coward family had become a recognized part of the Somerset community, contributing to the agricultural and social life of the region. Their presence in the area reflects the long history of families who built their lives around the land and the livestock that sustained their local economy.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
cuhierde
Old English term for a cow herder or keeper of cattle.
This name
CowardAn occupational surname for someone who tended to a herd of cows.
also spelled
Caward
Cowart
Cowerd
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., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
The National Archives, Kew, Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers, 1384–1858
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cinquefoilHope and joy
cinquefoilHope and joy
