A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Boscawen family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 9978 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
swordJustice, and military honour
branchPeace, and new growth
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur à un château sommé de trois tours d'arg., maconné de sa., acc. en chef d'une épée d'arg., garnie d'or, et d'une branche de lis au nat., passées en saut. S.: deux lions, au nat. D.: AMOR PATRIÆ.”
RouergueRouergue, c. 1663
Where the Boscawen Arms Were Recorded
Rouergue
Map of France showing where the Boscawen arms are recorded
The Boscawen arms were recorded in Rouergue, c. 1663.
Rouergue was high, stony country in southern France, with more castles than money. Its families were numerous and modest, and even a small holding was enough for a shield of one's own.
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 Boscawen 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 Rouergue.
Origin & History of the Boscawen Family in France
The Boscawen name traces its roots to the rugged landscapes of southern France, specifically within the historic province of Rouergue. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well-established figures in this region, which is known today as the Aveyron department. The name itself is deeply connected to the geography of the area, as it likely evolved from local linguistic traditions describing the wooded hills and natural terrain of the Massif Central. During the seventeenth century, families in this part of France often held positions of local influence or managed agricultural estates that had been passed down through generations. These early Boscawens lived through a time of significant social change in the French countryside, where the stability of their landholdings helped define their status within the community. Their presence in Rouergue highlights a long history of deep attachment to the rural traditions and the specific cultural identity of the Occitan-speaking south.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Erm. a rose gu. barbed and seeded ppr”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Boscawen Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Boscawen arms are recorded
The Boscawen 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 France when the Boscawen 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 Boscawen Family in England
The Boscawen family name traces its roots to the ancient landscape of Cornwall, where the name originally described a dwelling place near a grove of elder trees. While the family is most famously associated with the far southwest of England, historical records confirm that members of the family had established a presence in the city of York by 1620. This migration highlights the movement of families across England during the early seventeenth century as individuals sought new opportunities in growing urban centers. By this time, the name had evolved from a local Cornish identifier into a recognized surname carried by people participating in the professional and social life of northern English cities. The family continued to maintain its distinct identity even as its members moved far from their ancestral homes in the west.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
bos-cawen
Derived from Cornish elements meaning dwelling or house at the elder tree.
This name
BoscawenRefers to a place of residence located near a grove of elder trees.
also spelled
Boscawin
Boscawyn
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives Départementales de l'Aveyron, Série E, État civil et notariat
Balsan, Louis, Rouergue roman, 1963
Delmas, Jean, Histoire du Rouergue, 1990
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
swordJustice, and military honour
branchPeace, and new growth
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
swordJustice, and military honour
branchPeace, and new growth
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
