Map of France showing where the Bolyard arms are recorded
The Bolyard arms were recorded in Ile-de-France, c. 1663.
Ile-de-France is the country around Paris, and proximity to the court mattered. Families who served the crown were rewarded with land near it, and land near the capital carried arms almost as a matter of course.
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 Bolyard 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 Ile-de-France.
Origin & History of the Bolyard Family in France
The family name Bolyard traces its roots back to the historic region of Ile-de-France, where members of the family were documented as early as 1663. During this period, the name was likely associated with the rural landscape and the agricultural traditions of the French countryside. Families living in this region often identified themselves through their specific trade or the local geography of their home village. As the seventeenth century progressed, the Bolyard family became part of the social fabric of northern France, living through a time of significant political change under the reign of King Louis XIV. Over time, the spelling of the name likely evolved as individuals moved between different parishes and recorded their names in official church registers. This early presence in the heart of France suggests that the family was deeply connected to the local community and the regional history of the Parisian basin.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
boule
Old French term for a ball or a round object.
This name
BolyardA topographical or occupational name referring to someone who lived near a round hill or a maker of wooden bowls.
also spelled
Boulart
Boularde
Boularr
Bulard
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives Nationales, Minutier central des notaires de Paris
Fichier Origine, Fédération des sociétés de généalogie du Québec
Jetté, René, Dictionnaire généalogique des familles du Québec, 1983
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
