A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the de Cock family lines. Documented in 3 countries.
Reg. 6198 · Dutch, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à six oiseaux de sin., 3 et 3.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the de Cock Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the de Cock arms are recorded
The de Cock arms were recorded in Netherlands, c. 1815.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Friesland.
Friesland was low, wet country on the northern coast of the Netherlands, farmed by families who had held the same land for centuries. Free landholders were unusually common there, and a free landholder could carry 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.
Region
Friesland
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the de Cock Arms
Hoge Raad van Adel
Photograph made by me · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Netherlands in this period.
William I of the Netherlands
Sovereign of the period
William I of the Netherlands
1815–1840
Reigning in Netherlands when the de Cock arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Netherlands
In the Netherlands, coats of arms were often used by noble families and those who held specific public offices. These arms were passed down through the generations to legitimate descendants. Younger branches of a family usually kept the original design without needing to add special marks. This system ensured that the family identity remained clear and consistent over many years.
Granting authority
The Hoge Raad van Adel is the official body that regulates and manages noble titles and coats of arms in the Netherlands.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through official royal grants or by proving their long-standing historical use of the symbols.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms are officially recorded in the registers held by the Hoge Raad van Adel, which began its work in 1814.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Netherlands.
Origin & History of the de Cock Family in Netherlands
The family name de Cock has deep roots in the Low Countries, functioning originally as a descriptive surname that identified a person by their trade or social role. In the Dutch language, the name is linked to the word for a cook, suggesting that the earliest ancestors likely worked in professional kitchens or managed food preparation for local nobility or town guilds. By the early nineteenth century, the family established a notable presence in the northern province of Friesland. This region was known for its unique legal customs and strong sense of local identity, which often influenced how families recorded their names during the period of civil registration. As the family settled in this area by 1815, they became part of the distinct social fabric of Frisian life, contributing to the agricultural and maritime development that defined the province during that era.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 de gu., au chef d'arg.; aux 2 et 3 parti-émanché d'arg. et de gu. de dix pièces. Sur le tout de gu. à deux têtes de coq d'arg. C.: un pennon aux armes du 1, entre un vol d'arg. et de gu.”
BelgiumBruxelles, c. 1737
Where the de Cock Arms Were Recorded
Bruxelles
Map of Belgium showing where the de Cock arms are recorded
The de Cock arms were recorded in Bruxelles, c. 1737.
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 Belgium in this period.
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
1711–1740
Reigning in Netherlands when the de Cock arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Belgium
In Belgium, a coat of arms is considered personal property that is passed down through the male line to legitimate descendants. Families often use the same shield design across generations to show their shared heritage. If a branch of the family wants to change the design, they must apply for an official update to their specific version of the arms.
Granting authority
The Conseil héraldique is the official body that regulates and approves all coats of arms in Belgium.
How they got arms
Families obtain their coats of arms through formal royal grants or by confirming their historical right to use existing designs.
Where arms were recorded
All approved coats of arms are officially recorded in the public registers of the Conseil héraldique since 1844.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Belgium.
Origin & History of the de Cock Family in Belgium
The family name de Cock has deep roots in the historical landscape of Belgium, reflecting a time when surnames often described a person’s trade or personal traits. In the Dutch language, the name refers to a cook, suggesting that the earliest ancestors may have worked in professional kitchens or served in noble households. By the year 1737, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in Brussels. During this era, Brussels was a bustling center of trade and administration under the Austrian Netherlands. Families like the de Cocks were often part of the growing urban middle class, contributing to the local economy through skilled labor or small businesses. As they navigated life in the capital, they became part of the long tradition of families who helped shape the social and cultural identity of the region.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à un coq hardi de sa.”
FlandreFlandre, c. 1663
Where the de Cock Arms Were Recorded
Flandre
Map of France showing where the de Cock arms are recorded
The de Cock arms were recorded in Flandre, c. 1663.
Flandre grew rich on cloth, and its towns were among the busiest in Europe. Merchant families bought land with their profits and took arms to go with it, so trade put as many names in the registers here as land did.
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 France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in Netherlands when the de Cock arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Flandre.
Origin & History of the de Cock Family in France
The family name de Cock emerged from the linguistic landscape of the Low Countries, where it functioned as a descriptive surname rooted in the Middle Dutch word for a cook or a seller of prepared foods. By the mid-seventeenth century, members of the family were firmly established in the region of Flanders, which straddled the shifting borders between the Spanish Netherlands and the expanding influence of the French Kingdom. During this era, the name often appeared in local administrative records as families navigated the complex legal requirements of a society transitioning between feudal traditions and centralized state control. Because the region was a frequent site of military conflict and territorial exchange, the de Cock family lived through a period where their identity was shaped by both local Flemish customs and the encroaching administrative reach of the French crown. This historical context highlights a family that was deeply integrated into the trade and social life of the borderlands long before modern national identities were fully solidified.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
coc
A Middle Dutch term referring to a male bird or rooster.
This name
de CockAn occupational surname for a cook or a nickname for someone with rooster-like traits.
also spelled
Decocq
Cock
de Kok
Cook
Related arms
Cockvariant spelling
de Cocqvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Debrabandere, Frans. Woordenboek van de familienamen in België en Noord-Frankrijk. 2003
Van der Schaar, Jo. Woordenboek van voornamen. 1988
AlleFriezen, Burgerlijke Stand (Civil Registration), 1811-1950
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
