A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Oaks family of Britain.
Reg. 6602 · Britain, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
acornAntiquity and strength from small beginnings
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. au chev. engr. de sa., ch. d'une croix de Malte du champ et acc. de trois glands au nat., tigés et feuillés de sin., les tiges en bas; au canton de gu., ch. d'une étoile (8) d'arg. à dextre, et d'un croiss. tourné du même à sen. Cq. timbré d'une couronne murale de gu. C.: une tête et col de cerf au nat., coll. d'un collier brét. et c.-brét. d'or. D.: PERSEVERE.”
Britainc. 1813
Where the Oaks Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of Britain showing where the Oaks arms are recorded
The Oaks arms were recorded in Britain, c. 1813.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Kent.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats of 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 Britain in this period.
George III of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George III of Great Britain
1801–1820
Reigning in Britain when the Oaks arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Britain
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 Britain.
Origin & History of the Oaks Family in Britain
The surname Oaks is a topographical name, which means it was originally given to people who lived near a prominent oak tree or a forest of oak trees. In medieval England, surnames were often created based on a person’s surroundings to help distinguish them from others in a small village. By the time the family was recorded in Kent in 1813, the name had been established for centuries as a way to identify those who worked the land or resided near these sturdy, symbolic trees. The oak tree itself held great cultural significance in English history, representing strength and endurance, which likely helped the name persist through generations. As families moved across the English countryside, the name evolved from a simple description of a home into a permanent family identity that linked ancestors to the natural landscape of their region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
ac
Old English term for an oak tree.
This name
OaksA topographic name for someone who lived near a prominent oak tree or forest.
also spelled
Oaks
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
Kent Archives, Parish Registers of Kent, 1813
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
acornAntiquity and strength from small beginnings
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
acornAntiquity and strength from small beginnings
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
