A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Heacock family of England.
Reg. 7637 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
elephantGreat strength, wit and ambition
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Erminois an elephant az. on a chief of the second the sun in splendour betw. two beehives or”
MiddlesexNewington · Middlesex, c. 1746
Where the Heacock Arms Were Recorded
Middlesex
Map of England showing where the Heacock arms are recorded
The Heacock arms were recorded in Middlesex, c. 1746.
Middlesex was the county around London, and City money flowed straight into it. Merchants and officials bought estates within reach of the capital, and a new estate brought a coat of arms with it.
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.
George II of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George II of Great Britain
1727–1760
Reigning in England when the Heacock 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 Middlesex.
Origin & History of the Heacock Family in England
The surname Heacock is an English locational name that likely originated from a descriptive term for a specific piece of land. Etymologists often trace the name to a combination of old words referring to a high ridge or a hill occupied by a cock or a bird. By the middle of the eighteenth century, the family had established a documented presence in the county of Middlesex. Records confirm that members of the Heacock family were living in this region by 1746, where they participated in the local economy and social life of the area. During this period, families in Middlesex were often involved in trade or agriculture, and the name appears in various parish registers and legal documents that track the movement and property ownership of residents. This early documentation serves as a vital link to understanding how the family integrated into the growing communities surrounding London during the mid-1700s.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hecoc
A diminutive form of the Old English personal name Heca.
This name
HeacockA patronymic surname derived from the son of Heca, meaning little Heca.
also spelled
Hecock
Heicock
Haycock
Related arms
Haycockvariant spelling
Heatcock, alias Arrasvariant spelling
Aty, or Attyerecorded with Heacock, same area
Holbrookerecorded with Heacock, 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, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
London Metropolitan Archives, Middlesex Parish Records, 1746
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
elephantGreat strength, wit and ambition
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
elephantGreat strength, wit and ambition
