A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dox family of England.
Reg. 8801 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
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Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“Vert three sea-breams (or hakes) haurient ar”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Dox Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Dox arms are recorded
The Dox arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried 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 Dox 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 England.
Origin & History of the Dox Family in England
The Dox family name has roots that stretch back to the historic city of York, England, where members of the family were documented as early as 1620. During this period, York was a bustling center of trade and religious life, and families like the Doxes were often part of the growing urban middle class. The name itself is thought to be a variation of older occupational or location-based surnames common in Northern England. As the seventeenth century progressed, the family likely navigated the significant social and political shifts of the English Civil War era, which deeply impacted the residents of York. By establishing themselves in such a prominent northern city, the early Dox family became part of the long and complex history of Yorkshire, contributing to the local community through their work and daily lives.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Docce
Old English term referring to a dock plant or weed.
This name
DoxA topographical surname for someone who lived near a patch of dock plants.
also spelled
Docks
Dockes
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records
City of York Archives, York House Books
Palliser, D. M., Tudor York, 1979
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fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
