Map of England showing where the Lock arms are recorded
The Lock arms were recorded in Cornwall, c. 1563.
Cornwall was a county apart, with its own language and its own tight-knit gentry. Tin and the sea made money there, and families who made it bought land, which is what brought 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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Lock 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 Cornwall.
Origin & History of the Lock Family in England
The surname Lock is primarily classified as a topographic name, which means it was originally given to people who lived near a specific physical landmark. In Old English, the word *loc* referred to an enclosure, a barrier, or a bridge, suggesting that the first individuals to carry the name likely lived near a gated area or a river crossing. By the mid-16th century, the family had established a notable presence in the rugged landscape of Cornwall. Records from 1563 confirm that members of the Lock family were active in this region during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. During this era, families in Cornwall were often deeply connected to the local mining, farming, or maritime industries that defined the coastal economy. As the family grew, they integrated into the local parish systems, leaving behind traces in tax rolls and church registers that help historians map their movement across the English countryside.
Lock Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
loc
Old English word for a bolt, latch, or enclosure.
This name
LockAn occupational name for a locksmith or a topographic name for someone living near a barrier.
also spelled
Lok
Loke
Related arms
Lokevariant spelling
Chestonrecorded with Lock, same area
Gatakerrecorded with Lock, same area
Grissellrecorded with Lock, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Cornwall Archives, Parish Registers of Cornwall, 1563
Cottle, Basil, The Penguin Dictionary of Surnames, 1967
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
