A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Boisseau family of France.
Reg. 4914 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à trois lions de gu., sortants de trois boisseaux d'azur.”
Francec. 1663
Where the Boisseau Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Boisseau arms are recorded
The Boisseau 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 Boisseau 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 Boisseau Family in France
The surname Boisseau originates from the historical regions of France, with deep roots reaching back to the seventeenth century. The name is derived from the Old French word "boissel," which was a traditional unit of measurement used for dry goods like grain. It is likely that the first people to carry this name were either merchants who traded in these goods or farmers who used the measure to track their harvests. By 1663, records confirm that members of the Boisseau family were well-established in the province of Bretagne. During this era, families in this coastal region often lived in small, tight-knit rural communities where they played vital roles in the local agricultural economy. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the area, contributing to the development of the local villages through their work and trade.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
boisseau
A medieval unit of dry measure for grain or seeds.
This name
BoisseauAn occupational name for a merchant or official who measured grain using a bushel container.
also spelled
Boisseaux
Boissault
Boissot
Bwaso
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
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lionCourage, strength and royalty
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
lionCourage, strength and royalty
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
