A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Boker family of France.
Reg. 5064 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'azur au léopard d'or; aux 2 et 3 de gu. à la croix ancrée d'arg.”
Francec. 1663
Where the Boker Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Boker arms are recorded
The Boker 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 Boker 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 Boker Family in France
The family name Boker has deep roots in the coastal region of Bretagne, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1663. During this period, Bretagne was a distinct province with its own unique culture and legal traditions. Families living in this area often relied on the land or the sea for their livelihood, and names were frequently shaped by the local Breton language or the influence of neighboring French dialects. As the family settled into their community, they likely participated in the local parish life, which served as the center for recording births, marriages, and deaths. By maintaining a presence in this region during the seventeenth century, the Boker family became part of the long and complex history of a province known for its strong sense of identity and its maritime connections to the rest of Europe.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bouc
Old French term for a male goat or billy goat.
This name
BokerAn occupational surname for a goatherd or a nickname for someone resembling a goat.
also spelled
Beauquere
Beauquer
Beauquerres
Boker
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B (Cours et juridictions)
Gautier, Hervé, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1993
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
