A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bose family of Germany.
Reg. 5695 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à une rose de sa., bout. de gu. (ou d'or). C.: une rose d'or, entre un vol de sa., chaque aile ch. d'une rose d'or.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Bose Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Bose arms are recorded
The Bose arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit in the registers.
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 Germany in this period.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Bose arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
In the Holy Roman Empire, coats of arms were often granted to individuals by the Emperor or his representatives. These arms were then passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants of the original holder. Younger branches of a family usually kept the same shield design without needing to change it, as the arms belonged to the entire lineage.
Granting authority
The Holy Roman Emperor held the sole power to grant new coats of arms throughout his vast imperial territories.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal imperial grant or by proving their noble status to the authorities.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Imperial Chancery registers, which began keeping formal records of such honors during the Middle Ages.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Germany.
Origin & History of the Bose Family in Germany
The family name Bose has deep roots in the German-speaking regions of Europe, with historical records confirming their presence in Bavaria by the year 1765. The name itself is thought to have originated as a descriptive nickname, likely derived from the Middle High German word "bose," which could mean bold, wild, or even mischievous. In the social structure of the eighteenth century, families with this surname were often involved in local agriculture, trade, or civil service within the Bavarian territories. As the family grew, members moved across different regions, adapting to the changing political landscape of the Holy Roman Empire and later the German states. By maintaining a consistent presence in local parish registers and land deeds, the Bose family established a long-standing legacy that reflects the broader history of rural and middle-class life in southern Germany.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
boso
A Germanic personal name derived from the word for bad or bold.
This name
BoseA patronymic surname originating from a nickname for a bold or daring individual.
also spelled
Bosee
Related arms
Adeffehelmsimilar arms
Metzner de Metzenhofensimilar arms
Rentzsimilar arms
Stiersimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
