A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bok family of Denmark.
Reg. 8474 · Danish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Parti: au 1 d'arg. à deux fasces de sa.; au 2 d'or plein.”
Denmarkc. 1722
Where the Bok Arms Were Recorded
Sjaælland
Map of Denmark showing where the Bok arms are recorded
The Bok arms were recorded in Denmark, c. 1722.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Sjaælland.
Zealand held the Danish court, the crown's offices and Copenhagen itself. Families who served the king kept estates within reach of it, and royal service was the ordinary route 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 Denmark in this period.
Frederik IV of Denmark
Sovereign of the period
Frederik IV of Denmark
1699–1730
Reigning in Denmark when the Bok arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Denmark
Danish heraldry during this period was closely tied to noble status and royal favor rather than being open to all citizens. Arms were typically granted by the monarch to individuals, and these symbols were then shared by all members of the noble house. If a family line died out, the right to use those specific arms ended with them.
Granting authority
The Danish royal chancery held the power to issue and regulate official coats of arms for the kingdom.
How they got arms
Families usually received their arms through a formal royal grant that confirmed their noble status and rights.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Danish Royal Chancery records starting in the sixteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Denmark.
Origin & History of the Bok Family in Denmark
The family name Bok has deep roots in the Danish landscape, with documented evidence placing members of the family in the region of Sjælland as early as 1722. During this period, the name was closely tied to the rural traditions of the island, where families often lived and worked on small agricultural holdings. The name itself likely originated from a descriptive term, as the word "bok" refers to the beech tree, which is the national tree of Denmark and a common sight in the forests of Sjælland. It is probable that the earliest ancestors to carry this name were identified by their proximity to these distinct woodlands or by their work in timber and forestry. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric, leaving traces in parish registers and tax records that reflect the steady, hardworking life of the Danish countryside in the eighteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bōk
A Proto-Germanic term referring to the beech tree.
This name
BokA topographic surname originally denoting someone who lived near a prominent beech tree or forest.
also spelled
Bock
Boek
Book
Related arms
Bockvariant spelling
Boekvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Statens Arkiver (Danish National Archives), Kirkebøger for Sjællands Stift (Parish registers for the Diocese of Sjælland)
Statens Arkiver (Danish National Archives), Folketællinger og Skattelister (Census records and tax lists)
Kousgård Sørensen, John, Danske Surnavne (1987)
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
