The Babcock Family History and Coat of Arms

Discovering our history

In my opinion, the best and most accurate information about the history of the Babcock family is found in Stephen Babcock’s book Babcock Genealogy (1903). Other sources found can be found at babcock-history.com

If you have done your own exploration into the history of the Babcock’s and have new information, please reach out! I hope you enjoy the information and photos I have collected below.

Babcock Spelling and History in England

“The spelling of surnames has undergone many changes, and in numerous cases members of the same family spell their names differently. It seems certain that the Babcocks of this country sprang from the Badcocks of England, and in that country the name has undergone further changes, as at present some of the family have changed the name to Badco, and others to Budco.” (Babcock Genealogy, p. 33)

Latin Family Mottos

Deus Spes Mea means God is my hope
Secundum Verbum Tuum means according to your word (Luke 1:38)
Tempus Omnia Monstrat means time reveals all things

Coat of Arms

“The Babcock Coat of Arms, which is used as the frontispiece of this book, is from the Dictionary of American Family Antiquity. It is described in the language of Heraldry thus: He beareth Argent; three pale cocks on a Fesse cotised, gules. Crest, a cock’s head. Motto, “Deus spes mea.” Defined,* for the benefit of those unversed in Heraldry, the meaning of these queer terms is as follows: Argent means silver, sometimes represented by white, Fesse cotised means a broad band crossing the shield horizontally in the middle between two narrow bands parallel ‘ to, and near, the Fesse. The Fesse is emblematic of the military girdle worn round the body over the armor. Gules means red. The crest is placed on the top of, or above, the shield, and the motto, or legend, is usually below it. Hence, expressed in ordinary English, our coat of arms relates that The Babcock bears a white, or silver, shield with three pale cocks emblazoned on a broad red band, crossing the shield horizontally, with a narrow red band on each side of it; with a cock’s head above, and a motto beneath the shield, which motto expresses the sentiment, God is my Hope.” (Babcock Genealogy, p. 11)