Map of England showing where the Waldock arms are recorded
The Waldock 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 Waldock 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 Waldock Family in England
The surname Waldock is believed to have originated in England as a locational name, likely referring to people who lived near a specific woodland area or a clearing in a forest. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the historic city of York. Records confirm that members of the Waldock family were living there by 1620, a time when York served as a vital northern hub for trade and administration. During this period, families with this name were often integrated into the local community, working in various trades that supported the city's growing economy. As the family moved through the generations, they helped shape the local history of the region, leaving behind traces of their lives in parish registers and municipal documents that still exist today.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Wald
Old Germanic element meaning rule or power.
This name
WaldockDerived from a diminutive form of names containing the element rule, signifying a powerful ruler.
also spelled
Waldok
Waldoke
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, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Records: Parish Registers of York, 1620
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starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
