A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Haddock family of England.
Reg. 8527 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Ar. a cross sa. in the first quarter”
LancasterLancaster, c. 1620
Where the Haddock Arms Were Recorded
Lancaster
Map of England showing where the Haddock arms are recorded
The Haddock arms were recorded in Lancaster, c. 1620.
Lancashire was divided among a great many small landed families, more than most northern counties. Estates were passed down whole rather than split up, so the same names hold the same ground for centuries in the records.
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 Haddock 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 Lancaster.
Origin & History of the Haddock Family in England
The surname Haddock originates from medieval England and is classified as a locative or occupational name. Many historians believe the name evolved from the Middle English word haddock, which refers to the common saltwater fish. It is possible that an early ancestor earned this nickname due to their profession as a fisherman or perhaps because of a physical resemblance to the fish. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Haddock family were firmly established in Lancaster. During this period, the family likely lived as part of the growing merchant or agricultural classes in the Lancashire region. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric, contributing to the development of the town through their daily work and community involvement.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Haddock
Derived from the Middle English word for the Atlantic codfish.
This name
HaddockOriginally a nickname for someone who resembled a haddock or a fishmonger.
also spelled
Haddok
Haddick
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
cross symbolChristian faith and service
cross symbolChristian faith and service
