A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Boothby family of England.
Reg. 5689 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
pawStrength held ready, the beast's power in a single limb
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Ar. on a canton gu. a lion's gamb erased and erect or”
DerbyBroadlow Ash · Derby, c. 1620
Where the Boothby Arms Were Recorded
Derby
Map of England showing where the Boothby arms are recorded
The Boothby arms were recorded in Derby, c. 1620.
Derbyshire had lead mines in its hills and good grazing in its valleys. Both made steady money, and families who made it bought manors, which is what put their names into the heraldic records.
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 Boothby 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 Derby.
Origin & History of the Boothby Family in England
The family name Boothby is locative in origin, meaning it was derived from a specific place rather than a trade or personal trait. The name comes from the Old Norse words "búð," meaning a booth or temporary shelter, and "býr," meaning a farmstead or village. This suggests that the earliest ancestors lived in or near a settlement established by Scandinavian settlers in the Danelaw region of England. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the town of Derby. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Boothby family were active in the local community, eventually becoming influential figures in the region's social and political life. Their transition from rural landowners to prominent townspeople reflects the broader movement of families toward urban centers during the Stuart period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Búi and býr
Old Norse for a resident or settler and a farm or village.
This name
BoothbyA settlement or farmstead belonging to a man named Búi.
also spelled
Bouthby
Boteby
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names, 1960
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Derbyshire Record Office, Quarter Sessions Records, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
pawStrength held ready, the beast's power in a single limb
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
pawStrength held ready, the beast's power in a single limb
