A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bosc family of France.
Reg. 4995 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. à une croix, les trois premières branches fleurdelisées, celle en bas pommetée, le tout d'or, cant. de quatre trèfles d'arg.”
FranceCaen, c. 1663
Where the Bosc Arms Were Recorded
Caen
Map of France showing where the Bosc arms are recorded
The Bosc arms were recorded in Caen, c. 1663.
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 Bosc 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 France.
Origin & History of the Bosc Family in France
The surname Bosc originates from the Old French word for wood or forest, which suggests that the earliest members of the family likely lived near or worked within wooded areas. By the mid-seventeenth century, the family established a clear presence in the city of Caen, located in the Normandy region of France. Records from 1663 confirm that individuals bearing this name were active participants in the local community during a period of significant social and economic development in the region. As the family grew, they integrated into the urban life of Caen, likely contributing to the local trades and professional guilds that defined the city at that time. This transition from a name associated with the rural landscape to one rooted in a bustling administrative and commercial center reflects the broader movement of families toward established French cities during the seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Boscus
Late Latin term for a wood or forest.
This name
BoscRefers to someone who lived near or worked within a wooded area.
also spelled
Bosque
Bos
Related arms
Duboisrecorded with Bosc, same area
le Clémentrecorded with Bosc, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Calvados, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil de Caen, 1663
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
cross symbolChristian faith and service
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
