A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Boak family of Scotland.
Reg. 0819 · Scottish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Or, a pale gu. in chief two frets, and in base another counterchanged”
Scotlandc. 1748
Where the Boak Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Boak arms are recorded
The Boak arms were recorded in Scotland, c. 1748.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh was the seat of Scotland's government, its courts and its heralds. Families with business there settled nearby, and being close to where arms were recorded is exactly why so many of them appear.
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 Scotland in this period.
George II of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George II of Great Britain
1727–1760
Reigning in Scotland when the Boak arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Scotland
Scottish heraldry is unique because it treats a coat of arms as a piece of personal property protected by law. Only one person can own a specific design at any given time. When a family grows, the head keeps the original shield while other relatives must apply for their own distinct version with slight changes to prove their specific identity.
Granting authority
The Court of the Lord Lyon acts as the official body that regulates and controls all heraldic matters throughout Scotland.
How they got arms
Individuals obtain a legal right to their arms through a formal petition process that confirms their identity and family connection.
Where arms were recorded
All valid coats of arms are officially entered into the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings starting from 1672.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Scotland.
Origin & History of the Boak Family in Scotland
The surname Boak is primarily associated with the Lowlands of Scotland, where it has been established for several centuries. Historical records confirm that members of the family were living in Edinburgh by 1748, where they were often involved in the city’s growing trade and craft industries. The name itself is thought to be a variation of the Middle English word "boke," which was sometimes used as a nickname for a person who was particularly studious or associated with the production of books. Alternatively, some linguists suggest it may have originated as a topographical name for someone who lived near a prominent beech tree, as the word "boak" shares roots with the Old English term for the beech tree. Regardless of its exact linguistic origin, the family played an active role in the urban development of Scotland’s capital during the eighteenth century, contributing to the professional and mercantile life of the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Boc
Old English term for a beech tree or a written document.
This name
BoakA topographic name for someone who lived near a prominent beech tree or a scribe.
also spelled
Boke
Boack
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Black, George Fraser, The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History, 1946
National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh Register of Testaments, CC8/8/111
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
