A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Boor family of England.
Reg. 3087 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Gu. a boar pass. ar”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Boor Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Boor arms are recorded
The Boor arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried 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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Boor 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 England.
Origin & History of the Boor Family in England
The surname Boor is rooted in the linguistic landscape of medieval England, where it functioned as an occupational name for a peasant or a farmer. Derived from the Middle English word "boor," which shares its origins with the Old English "gebur," the name originally identified individuals who worked the land and lived in rural communities. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the historic city of York, as evidenced by records from 1620. During this era, York served as a vital northern hub for trade and administration, suggesting that the Boor family were active participants in the urban life of the period. While the name began as a descriptor for agricultural labor, its survival through centuries of migration and social change highlights the family's transition from rural roots to becoming part of the established citizenry in one of England’s oldest cities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bure
Old English term for a small dwelling or cottage.
This name
BoorAn occupational name for a peasant farmer or a dweller in a small cottage.
also spelled
Bore
Bour
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
