Map of France showing where the Booton arms are recorded
The Booton arms were recorded in Franche-Comte, c. 1663.
Franche-Comte sat between France and the Empire and changed hands more than once. Border families held their land under arms and expected to defend it, so a shield was a practical thing rather than an ornament.
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 Booton 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 Franche-Comte.
Origin & History of the Booton Family in France
The family name Booton carries a deep history rooted in the border regions of Europe. By 1663, records confirm that members of the family were established in the Franche-Comté region, a territory that shifted between French and Spanish control during the seventeenth century. Living in this mountainous area near the Jura Mountains, the family likely navigated the complex political and social changes brought on by the frequent wars of the era. The name itself is believed to be locational, often linked to individuals who lived near a specific village or a prominent landmark. As the family moved and settled in different areas, the spelling of the name evolved to match the local languages of the regions they inhabited. This transition from the Franche-Comté area suggests that the family was part of the mobile population that helped shape the culture and economy of the borderlands during the early modern period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
bot
Old French term for a toad or a stout, clumsy person.
This name
BootonA nickname for a person of short, stout, or squat physical stature.
also spelled
Boutton
Booton
Button
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Benoit, Arthur, Notes sur les familles de la Franche-Comté, 1870
Archives Départementales du Doubs, Série B: Cours et juridictions, 1663
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
