Map of Netherlands showing where the De Kock arms are recorded
The De Kock 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 Kock 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 Kock 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 Kock Family in Netherlands
The surname De Kock finds its roots in the Low Countries, where it evolved as a descriptive name linked to the occupation of a cook or a kitchen manager. In the Dutch language, the word "kok" refers to someone who prepared food, and the prefix "de" identifies the individual as "the" cook. By the time the name appears in the official records of Friesland in 1815, it had already been established as a hereditary family name for generations. During the early nineteenth century, the Napoleonic administration required all citizens to register their surnames formally for tax and census purposes. The presence of the De Kock family in the northern province of Friesland at this time reflects the broader movement of families across the Netherlands as they settled into permanent, documented identities. This transition from a simple occupational title to a formal family name highlights the way Dutch society organized itself as it moved into the modern era.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 la bande de gu., ch. de trois marmites d'or; au chef du même, ch. d'une aigle iss. de sa. Cq. cour. C.: trois pl. d'aut., une de gu. entre deux d'or; accostées de deux prob. coupées, à dextre de sa. sur or, à sen. d'arg. sur gu.”
FlandreFlandre, c. 1740
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Belgium showing where the De Kock arms are recorded
The De Kock arms were recorded in Flandre, c. 1740.
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 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 Kock 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 Flandre.
Origin & History of the De Kock Family in Belgium
The family name De Kock has deep roots in the historical region of Flanders, where it emerged as a descriptive occupational surname. In the Dutch language, the term "kok" refers to a cook, suggesting that the earliest ancestors to carry this name likely worked in professional kitchens, perhaps for local nobility, monasteries, or within the bustling trade guilds of Flemish cities. By 1740, records confirm the presence of the De Kock family in Flanders, a time when the region was transitioning under the rule of the Austrian Netherlands. During this era, families were often identified by their trade, and the transition of "De Kock" into a permanent hereditary surname reflects the importance of culinary roles in local society. As the family established themselves in the Flemish landscape, they became part of the social fabric of a region known for its complex history of commerce, agriculture, and urban development.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Coccus
Latin term for a berry or a kernel.
This name
De KockAn occupational surname for a cook or someone who prepared food.
also spelled
de Koeke
de Koeck
de Koecke
de Cook
Koek
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tresoar (Fries Historisch en Letterkundig Centrum), Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland
Nationaal Archief, Registers van de Burgerlijke Stand
Van der Schaar, J., Woordenboek van voornamen: verklaring van de voornamen van mannen en vrouwen, 1964
Meertens, P.J., De betekenis van de Nederlandse familienamen, 1943
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
