A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cozens family of England.
Reg. 7638 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
ermineDignity and rank
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Az. a chev. ar. betw. three plates, each charged with an erm. spot gu”
OxfordThame · Oxford, c. 1620
Where the Cozens Arms Were Recorded
Oxford
Map of England showing where the Cozens arms are recorded
The Cozens arms were recorded in Oxford, c. 1620.
Oxfordshire was farming country with the university at its centre, and both produced families of standing. Scholars and lawyers who did well bought manors nearby, and holding a manor was the ordinary route to a coat of 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 Cozens 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 Oxford.
Origin & History of the Cozens Family in England
The family name Cozens is a patronymic surname, which means it originated as a way to identify a person as the son or descendant of someone named Cousin. In the Middle Ages, the term cousin was often used as a friendly or affectionate nickname for a relative or a close companion. By the early 17th century, the name had become firmly established in England. Records confirm that members of the Cozens family were living in Oxford by 1620. During this period, Oxford was a major center for scholars and tradespeople, and families like the Cozens often played active roles in the local community through craft guilds or university service. As the family grew, they moved into various trades, helping to spread the name across different regions of the country while maintaining their roots in the social and economic life of English towns.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cousin
Derived from the Old French word for a kinsman or relative.
This name
CozensA patronymic or nickname denoting a relative or a person who frequently used the term cousin.
also spelled
Cozin
Cozzen
Related arms
Cosenvariant spelling
Cosensvariant spelling
Cosinsvariant spelling
Cosyns, or Cosinsvariant 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
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Oxfordshire History Centre, Oxford City Council Records: Quarter Sessions and Mayor’s Court rolls, 1620
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
ermineDignity and rank
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
ermineDignity and rank
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
