Map of England showing where the Boardman arms are recorded
The Boardman 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 Boardman 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 Boardman Family in England
The surname Boardman is an occupational name that originated in medieval England. It was historically given to individuals who served as the keepers or stewards of a "bord," which was a term used to describe a table or a small farmstead. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the historic city of York. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Boardman family were living and working within this northern hub during a time of significant social and economic change in England. As the name transitioned from a description of a person’s job to a permanent family identifier, it became deeply rooted in the local communities of Yorkshire. These early ancestors were likely involved in the local trade and civic life that defined the city of York during the reign of King James I.
Boardman Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Bord
Old English term for a board, plank, or table.
This name
BoardmanA person who lived by a board or plank bridge, or a servant at a table.
also spelled
Bordman
Boordman
Bordeman
Related arms
Bourdmanvariant spelling
Rawstornerecorded with Boardman, same area
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, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Accounts, 1620
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