A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Boger family of England.
Reg. 1528 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
swordJustice, and military honour
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 bend vairé ar. and gu. cottised az. betw. two towers of the last on a canton of the same an anchor in bend sinister of the first, surmounted of a sword in saltire ppr”
Englandc. 1620
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Map of England showing where the Boger arms are recorded
The Boger 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 Boger 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 Boger Family in England
The surname Boger is rooted in the Germanic linguistic tradition, likely originating as a descriptive name for a person who was a bowyer, or a maker of bows. By the early 17th century, the family had established a presence in York, England, as evidenced by records from 1620. During this era, families with this name were often integrated into the local trade guilds and civic life of the city. As the name spread across Northern Europe and eventually to the British Isles, it evolved through various spellings based on local dialects and phonetic recording by parish clerks. The presence of the Boger family in York during this period suggests they were part of the growing merchant and artisan class that helped shape the city’s economy and social structure during the transition into the Stuart period.
Boger Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Boge
A Middle English term referring to a bow or a curved shape.
This name
BogerAn occupational surname for a maker of bows or a person who lived near a curved feature.
also spelled
Bogar
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
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Accounts, 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.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
swordJustice, and military honour
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
swordJustice, and military honour
