This surname ADDICOTT was a baptismal name 'the son of Adam' an ancient and popular personal name. During the middle ages, a need was felt for an additional name, and the father or mother's name was used as a second name, as it added prestige and practical advantage to the status of the family. The name was brought into England from Europe during the wake of the Norman invasion, where it was anglicized to Adcock and Addcott. The earliest record of the name appears to be ADDI (without surname) who was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086. Other records of the name mention (ADECOCK) without surname who was recorded in 1198, County Lancashire. Richard Hadecock appears in County Yorkshire in 1200. Adecok Kay, 1246, County Lancashire. Hammes, son of Adecock, held 29 acres of land in Yorkshire in the year 1311. Robertus Adcock of Yorkshire was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax of 1379. The rise of surnames, according to the accepted theory, was due to the Norman Conquest of 1066 when Old English personal-names were rapidly superseded by the new christian names introduced by the Normans. Of these, only a few were really popular and in the 12th century this scarcity of christian names led to the increasing use of surnames to distinguish the numerous individuals of the same name. Some Normans had hereditary surnames before they came to England, but there is evidence that surnames would have developed in England even had there been no Norman Conquest. The development of the feudal system made it essential that the king should know exactly what service each person owed. Payments to and by the exchequer required that debtors and creditors should be particularized, and it became official that each individual acquired exact identification. Later instances of the name include a certain Thomas Smith who married Katurne Adcock at St. Antholin, London in the year of 1539. Thomas, son of Thomas Adcocke was baptised at St. James,s Clerkenwell, London in the year 1673. At first the coat of arms was a practical matter which served a function on the battlefield and in tournaments. With his helmet covering his face, and armour encasing the knight from head to foot, the only means of identification for his followers, was the insignia painted on his shield, and embroidered on his surcoat, the draped and flowing garment worn over the armour.