Map of England showing where the Bolitho arms are recorded
The Bolitho arms were recorded in Cornwall, c. 1620.
Cornwall was a county apart, with its own language and its own tight-knit gentry. Tin and the sea made money there, and families who made it bought land, which is what brought arms with it.
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 Bolitho 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 Cornwall.
Origin & History of the Bolitho Family in England
The surname Bolitho is deeply rooted in the rugged landscape of Cornwall, England. Linguists believe the name originates from the Cornish language, likely derived from the words "bod," meaning a dwelling or house, and "lythy," which refers to a place of milk or a dairy farm. This suggests that the earliest ancestors of the family were likely farmers or landholders who lived in the western parts of the Cornish peninsula. By the year 1620, records confirm that the Bolitho family was well established in this region, particularly around the areas of Madron and Penzance. Over the following centuries, the family became closely tied to the local economy, moving from traditional agriculture into the influential tin and copper mining industries that defined Cornish history. Their presence in the parish records of the seventeenth century highlights a long-standing connection to the community and the distinct cultural identity of the Cornish people.
Bolitho Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Bod-lithow
Cornish elements meaning dwelling or house and a personal name or slope.
This name
BolithoRefers to a specific farmstead or dwelling located on a hillside in the region of Cornwall.
also spelled
Bolytho
Bolythoe
Related arms
Pricerecorded with Bolitho, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Padel, O. J., A Popular Dictionary of Cornish Place-Names, 1988
Pool, P. A. S., The History of the Town and Parish of Penzance, 1974
Cornwall Archives, Parish Registers of Madron, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
