Map of England showing where the Sockwell arms are recorded
The Sockwell 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 Sockwell 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 Sockwell Family in England
The family name Sockwell finds its roots in the historic city of York, England, where members of the family were documented as early as 1620. During the seventeenth century, York was a bustling center of trade and religious life, and families living there were often connected to the local guilds or the agricultural lands surrounding the city walls. The name itself likely evolved from a geographical descriptor or a local landmark, as was common for surnames emerging in Northern England during this period. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of Yorkshire, contributing to the local economy and community life long before many of their descendants eventually moved across the Atlantic. By studying the parish registers of York, historians can see how the Sockwell name persisted through generations, reflecting the steady and resilient nature of families who built their lives in one of England’s oldest and most significant cities.
Sockwell Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Socca and Wella
Old English for a plowshare or territory and a spring or stream.
This name
SockwellA locational surname referring to someone living near a stream by a plowland.
also spelled
Sockwill
Sokwell
Sockewelle
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Archives: Parish Registers of York St. Martin-cum-Gregory
Palliser, D.M., Tudor York, 1979
Raine, Angelo, Mediaeval York: A Topographical Survey Based on Original Sources, 1955
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bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
