Map of England showing where the Cowpland arms are recorded
The Cowpland 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 Cowpland 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 Cowpland Family in England
The surname Cowpland is a locational name that originated in the northern regions of England. It is derived from the Old Norse words for a cow and a stretch of land, suggesting that the earliest families were likely farmers or landholders in areas where cattle were raised. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in the city of York. During this period, York was a major center for trade and administration, and families living there often held roles in local commerce or civic life. The name evolved through various spellings over the centuries as it moved from rural northern pastures into the urban environment of the city, reflecting the broader patterns of migration and social change in early modern England.
Cowpland Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Cope-land
Old Norse and Old English terms for a merchant or buyer.
This name
CowplandRefers to a person who lived on or owned a piece of land used for trade.
also spelled
Copland
Coupland
Cowplein
Related arms
Coplandvariant spelling
Couplandvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
Smith, A.H., The Place-Names of Cumberland, 1950
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records
The National Archives, Lay Subsidy Rolls for the County of York
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