A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Croke family of Ireland.
Reg. 9856 · Irish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Gu. on a fess betw. three martlets ar. a crescent of the field”
Irelandc. 1645
Where the Croke Arms Were Recorded
Dublin
Map of Ireland showing where the Croke arms are recorded
The Croke arms were recorded in Ireland, c. 1645.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Dublin.
Dublin was the seat of government in Ireland and the place where grants were sought and recorded. Families with business at the castle or the courts settled nearby, and settling there put their arms on record.
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 Ireland in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Ireland when the Croke arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Ireland.
Origin & History of the Croke Family in Ireland
The surname Croke has deep roots in Irish history, particularly within the region of Dublin where the family was firmly established by the mid-seventeenth century. The name is generally believed to be of Old Norse origin, likely derived from the word "krokr," which translates to hook or crook. This suggests that the earliest ancestors may have been associated with the Viking settlers who influenced the development of Dublin as a major trading port. By 1645, members of the Croke family were documented as active participants in the social and economic life of the city. During this period, the family navigated the complex political shifts of seventeenth-century Ireland, often appearing in local records related to property ownership and civic duties. Their presence in Dublin during this era highlights a long-standing connection to the urban growth of the capital, marking them as a family that helped shape the local community for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
croc
Old French term meaning a hook or a shepherd's staff.
This name
CrokeA nickname for a person who was bent or hooked in appearance.
also spelled
Crook
Crooks
Related arms
Crookvariant spelling
Crooksvariant spelling
Ameredithrecorded with Croke, same area
Mairisrecorded with Croke, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland, 1985
National Archives of Ireland, Civil Survey of the County of Dublin, 1654–1656
Woulfe, Patrick, Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall: Irish Names and Surnames, 1923
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