Map of England showing where the Nokes arms are recorded
The Nokes 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 Nokes 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 Nokes Family in England
The surname Nokes is a classic example of a topographical name, which means it was originally used to describe where a person lived. The name is a contraction of the phrase "at the oaks," referring to someone who resided near a prominent oak tree or a small grove. By the time the family was documented in York in 1620, the name had already evolved from its descriptive roots into a fixed hereditary surname. During the seventeenth century, York was a bustling center of trade and religion, and families like the Nokes were often part of the growing merchant or artisan classes. These early ancestors likely lived in the shadow of the city's ancient walls, where the name served as a simple way to identify them within their local community. Over generations, the spelling shifted from early variations to the modern form we recognize today, reflecting the way English names were recorded by clerks who wrote them down exactly as they heard them spoken.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
atten oak
at the oak tree
This name
Nokesa topographic name for someone who lived near a prominent oak tree
also spelled
Okesse
Oks
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
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Accounts, 1620
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heartSincerity, charity and true affection
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
