A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Boddie family of England.
Reg. 7026 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
pelicanSelf-sacrifice and devotion to one's children
batonAuthority and office held under the crown
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 fesse az. three pelicans or, vulning their breasts gu., on a canton ar. two staves raguly in saltire of the fourth charged with a ducal coronet”
EssexEssex, c. 1620
Where the Boddie Arms Were Recorded
Essex
Map of England showing where the Boddie arms are recorded
The Boddie arms were recorded in Essex, c. 1620.
Essex lay close enough to London for City money to buy land there. Merchants who prospered moved out to estates within a day's ride, and a new landowner almost always wanted arms to go with the ground.
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 Boddie 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 Essex.
Origin & History of the Boddie Family in England
The Boddie family name has roots that trace back to the English county of Essex, where members of the family were firmly established by the year 1620. The name itself is believed to be a variation of the Middle English term "body," which was often used as a nickname to describe a person’s physical stature or their general character. During the early seventeenth century, the Boddies were part of a growing class of landowners and merchants who played an active role in the local economy of southeastern England. As the political and religious landscape of the British Isles began to shift, some members of the family chose to seek new opportunities across the Atlantic. This migration helped spread the name from its ancestral home in Essex to the developing colonies in North America, where the family continued to establish itself in agricultural and civic life.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Boda
An Old English or Old Norse term meaning messenger or herald.
This name
BoddieA habitational or occupational surname derived from a messenger or a dweller at a small dwelling.
also spelled
Boddy
Boddey
Boddye
Body
Related arms
Bodyvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Boddie, John Bennett. Historical Southern Families. 1957
Essex Record Office. Parish Registers of Essex. 1620
Reaney, Percy Hide. A Dictionary of British Surnames. 1958
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
pelicanSelf-sacrifice and devotion to one's children
batonAuthority and office held under the crown
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
pelicanSelf-sacrifice and devotion to one's children
batonAuthority and office held under the crown
