A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Maddock family of England.
Reg. 0656 · English, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Per pale az. and gu. two lions pass. or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Maddock Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Maddock arms are recorded
The Maddock 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 Maddock 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 Maddock Family in England
The surname Maddock finds its roots in the ancient Welsh name Madoc, which translates to fortunate or good. Over many centuries, the name evolved from a personal identifier into a hereditary surname as families spread from Wales into Northern England. By the early seventeenth century, members of the Maddock family had established a notable presence in the city of York. During this era, York served as a vital hub for trade and administration, and families living there often participated in the local merchant guilds or craft industries. These early settlers were part of a period of significant social change in England, where families began to solidify their identities within growing urban centers. The presence of the Maddock name in York by 1620 suggests that the family had successfully integrated into the regional economy and community life of the North long before the modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Madoc
A Welsh personal name derived from the word for fortunate or good.
This name
MaddockA patronymic surname meaning son of the fortunate or good one.
also spelled
Madoc
Madocke
Madocks
Related arms
Madocvariant spelling
Madockevariant spelling
Madocksvariant spelling
Mardockvariant spelling
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
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
York City Archives, York Freemen’s Register, 1620
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
lionCourage, strength and royalty
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lionCourage, strength and royalty
