Map of England showing where the Hockley arms are recorded
The Hockley 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 Hockley 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 Hockley Family in England
The surname Hockley is a locative name, meaning it originally described a person who lived near a specific place. It is derived from the Old English words "hoc," which means a mallow plant, and "leah," which refers to a forest clearing or a meadow. This suggests that the earliest ancestors bearing the name likely resided in a clearing where these plants grew. By the year 1620, historical records confirm that members of the Hockley family were well-established in the city of York. During this period, families in northern England were often deeply connected to the local trade guilds and the agricultural life of the surrounding countryside. As the name spread from its rural origins into urban centers like York, it became a permanent identifier for families who were active participants in the social and economic growth of the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hoccleah
A clearing in the woods associated with a person named Hoc.
This name
HockleyDerived from Old English elements referring to a meadow or woodland clearing belonging to someone named Hoc.
also spelled
Hocklay
Hockly
Related arms
Hocklayvariant spelling
Hocklyvariant spelling
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
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
masclePersuasion and the mail of a knight's coat
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
masclePersuasion and the mail of a knight's coat
