A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Duck family of England.
Reg. 5966 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Or, on a fesse wavy sa. three lozenges of the field”
DevonHeavitree · Devon, c. 1602
Where the Duck Arms Were Recorded
Devon
Map of England showing where the Duck arms are recorded
The Duck arms were recorded in Devon, c. 1602.
Devon was a county of small manors and seafaring families. Its gentry were spread thickly across the countryside, and money made at sea often bought an estate, which in turn brought 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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Duck 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 Devon.
Origin & History of the Duck Family in England
The surname Duck is an ancient English name that likely originated as a descriptive nickname. During the Middle Ages, people were often given names based on their physical appearance, personality traits, or their resemblance to local wildlife. It is probable that the first person to carry this name was compared to the bird for their swimming ability, their gait, or perhaps their quiet demeanor. By the early 17th century, the family had established a firm presence in the county of Devon. Records from 1602 confirm that members of the Duck family were living in this region, where they were integrated into the local community as farmers, tradespeople, or landowners. Over the centuries, the name remained concentrated in the West Country of England, reflecting a long history of stability and local roots in the rural landscape of Devon.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
duce
Old English term for a leader or a water bird.
This name
DuckA nickname for someone with a waddling gait or a person who kept ducks.
also spelled
Duk
Dukke
Related arms
Gererecorded with Duck, same area
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
The National Archives, Kew, Exchequer: King's Remembrancer: Port Books, E 190
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
