A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Boase family of England.
Reg. 4196 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Ar. on a chev. engr. gu. five bezants betw. an anchor in base and two birds in chief with wings erect”
CornwallCornwall, c. 1620
Where the Boase Arms Were Recorded
Cornwall
Map of England showing where the Boase arms are recorded
The Boase arms were recorded in Cornwall, c. 1620.
Cornwall was a county apart, with its own language and its own tight-knit gentry. Tin and the sea made money there, and families who made it bought land, which is what brought arms with it.
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 Boase 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 Cornwall.
Origin & History of the Boase Family in England
The surname Boase is deeply rooted in the rugged landscape of Cornwall, where the family has maintained a documented presence since at least 1620. The name likely originated as a topographic or locational descriptor, evolving from the Middle Cornish word "bos," which translates to a dwelling or a house. During the seventeenth century, the Boase family became well-established in the western regions of the Cornish peninsula, particularly around Penzance and the surrounding parishes. As members of a regional community defined by mining, maritime trade, and agriculture, the early Boases were part of the distinct cultural fabric that separated Cornwall from the rest of England. Over time, the family name became synonymous with the local gentry and professional classes, reflecting a history of steady integration into the social and economic life of the Cornish coast.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Boz
A Cornish locative term referring to a dwelling or an abode.
This name
BoaseA habitational surname denoting someone who lived at a specific dwelling or farmstead.
also spelled
Bose
Boass
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Padel, O.J., A Popular Dictionary of Cornish Place-Names, 1988
Tangye, Michael, The Story of Penzance, 1991
Cornwall Archives, Parish Registers of Penzance and Madron, 1620–1700
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
