A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bois family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 9135 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé d'azur sur gu.; à un arbr. arr. d'or, br. sur le coupé. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1º une aigle cont. de sa., bq. et m. d'or; I. d'or et d'azur; 2º un lion iss. d'or, lamp. de gu., tenant entre ses pattes un écusson d'azur, ch. de trois glands effeuillés d'or, les tiges en bas; I. d'or et de gu.”
Francec. 1663
Where the Bois Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Bois arms are recorded
The Bois arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Bois arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of France.
Origin & History of the Bois Family in France
The surname Bois is a classic example of a topographic name, which means it was originally given to people based on the landscape where they lived. In the French language, the word bois translates directly to woods or forest. During the Middle Ages, families often adopted this name if they resided near a significant wooded area or worked as foresters. By the time records confirm the presence of the family in the Brittany region of France in 1663, the name had already been established for generations as a way to identify individuals by their connection to the local environment. Because Brittany was a distinct province with its own cultural traditions, families living there often maintained deep ties to their specific parcels of land. This connection to the forest was a common way for rural families to distinguish themselves in a society that was rapidly growing and becoming more organized.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Ar. two bars gu. a canton of the last”
Walesc. 1647
Where the Bois Arms Were Recorded
Denbigh
Map of Wales showing where the Bois arms are recorded
The Bois arms were recorded in Wales, c. 1647.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Denbigh.
Denbighshire was north Welsh country of hills and small estates. Land was held by a great many families rather than a few, and each holding brought its own claim to a coat of 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 Wales in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in France when the Bois arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Wales
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 Wales.
Origin & History of the Bois Family in Wales
The family name Bois, which originates from the French word for wood, arrived in Wales through waves of migration and trade across the English Channel. While the name is deeply rooted in continental European history, it became firmly established in the Welsh landscape by the mid-seventeenth century. Records confirm that members of the family were living in the town of Denbigh by 1647. During this period, Denbigh was a bustling market center where families often settled to participate in the growing regional economy. The presence of the Bois family in this area suggests they were part of a group of settlers who integrated into the local Welsh community during a time of significant social and political change. Over the following generations, the family adapted to the linguistic and cultural traditions of North Wales while maintaining the identity associated with their ancestral name.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Boscum
A Latin term referring to woodland, forest, or thicket.
This name
BoisA topographic surname for someone who lived near or worked in a forest.
also spelled
Boyes
Boiss
Boise
Bwa
Boyse
Related arms
Boysvariant spelling
Boyvariant spelling
Boyesvariant spelling
Boysevariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France. 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille. 1991
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine. Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil. 1663
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treeLife, endurance and deep roots
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
