Map of England showing where the Crocker arms are recorded
The Crocker arms were recorded in Oxford, c. 1506.
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.
Henry VII of England
Sovereign of the period
Henry VII of England
1485–1509
Reigning in England when the Crocker 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 Crocker Family in England
The surname Crocker is an occupational name that originated in medieval England. It was traditionally given to people who worked as potters, as the word comes from the Middle English term "crokkere," which refers to a maker of earthenware pots. By the early sixteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the city of Oxford. Records from 1506 confirm that members of the Crocker family were active within the local community during this period. As the name spread across the country, it became associated with the essential trade of crafting clay vessels for cooking and storage. This historical connection to pottery highlights how many English surnames were derived from the daily labor and skills of ancestors.
Crocker Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
crocc
A Middle English term referring to a pot or earthenware vessel.
This name
CrockerAn occupational surname for a maker or seller of pottery and earthenware goods.
also spelled
Crocker
Related arms
Croekervariant spelling
Crokervariant 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
Oxford City Archives, Oxford Council Acts, 1506
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
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
ravenConstancy and divine providence
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
ravenConstancy and divine providence
