Map of England showing where the Rokos arms are recorded
The Rokos arms were recorded in Bedford, c. 1620.
Bedfordshire was small, flat farming country close to London. Its manors were held by middling families rather than great ones, but a manor was a manor, and holding one brought 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 Rokos 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 Bedford.
Origin & History of the Rokos Family in England
The surname Rokos carries a history deeply rooted in the landscape of seventeenth-century England. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the family were established in Bedford, a town known for its long history as a center of trade and local government along the River Great Ouse. During this period, families in the region were often tied to the land through agriculture or specialized local crafts that supported the growing market town. As the family settled into the social fabric of Bedford, they became part of a community that navigated the significant political and religious shifts of the early Stuart era. While the origins of the name itself suggest a connection to specific regional dialects or ancestral nicknames, the presence of the Rokos family in Bedford highlights their role as early participants in the development of this historic English settlement.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Rocco
Derived from the Germanic word hrok meaning rest or repose.
This name
RokosAn English locational or patronymic surname originating from the Germanic name meaning rest.
also spelled
Rokesse
Rooke
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
ravenConstancy and divine providence
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
ravenConstancy and divine providence
