A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bosley family of England.
Reg. 2701 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cinquefoilHope and joy
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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 fesse engr. betw. three cinquefoils sa. three fleurs-de-lis of the field”
StaffordshireStaffordshire, c. 1620
Where the Bosley Arms Were Recorded
Staffordshire
Map of England showing where the Bosley arms are recorded
The Bosley arms were recorded in Staffordshire, c. 1620.
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 Bosley 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 Staffordshire.
Origin & History of the Bosley Family in England
The family name Bosley is rooted in the landscape of medieval England, specifically originating as a locational surname. It is derived from the Old English words for a wood or clearing and a meadow, suggesting that the first people to carry the name lived near a specific woodland pasture. By the early seventeenth century, the family had firmly established roots in the county of Staffordshire. Records from 1620 confirm their presence in this region, where they likely worked as farmers or tradespeople within the local rural economy. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the English Midlands, living through a period of significant agricultural and political change. Their history reflects the common experience of many families who remained tied to their ancestral lands for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Boise and leah
Derived from Old English words for a wood or clearing.
This name
BosleyRefers to a person who lived near a wooded clearing or a forest meadow.
also spelled
Bosly
Bosleigh
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Mills, Anthony David, A Dictionary of English Place-Names, 1991
Staffordshire Record Office, Diocese of Lichfield Episcopal Visitation 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.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cinquefoilHope and joy
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cinquefoilHope and joy
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
