A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bosman family of Netherlands.
Reg. 1259 · Dutch, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. au chev. de gu., acc. en chef de deux fleurs-de-lis d'azur et en p. d'un oiseau du même.”
NetherlandsRotterdam, c. 1815
Where the Bosman Arms Were Recorded
Rotterdam
Map of Netherlands showing where the Bosman arms are recorded
The Bosman arms were recorded in Rotterdam, c. 1815.
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.
Region
Rotterdam
Town
Rotterdam
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Bosman Arms
Hoge Raad van Adel
Photograph made by me · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Netherlands in this period.
William I of the Netherlands
Sovereign of the period
William I of the Netherlands
1815–1840
Reigning in Netherlands when the Bosman arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Netherlands
In the Netherlands, coats of arms were often used by noble families and those who held specific public offices. These arms were passed down through the generations to legitimate descendants. Younger branches of a family usually kept the original design without needing to add special marks. This system ensured that the family identity remained clear and consistent over many years.
Granting authority
The Hoge Raad van Adel is the official body that regulates and manages noble titles and coats of arms in the Netherlands.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through official royal grants or by proving their long-standing historical use of the symbols.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms are officially recorded in the registers held by the Hoge Raad van Adel, which began its work in 1814.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Netherlands.
Origin & History of the Bosman Family in Netherlands
The surname Bosman is a classic example of an occupational or topographical name originating from the Low Countries. In the Dutch language, the name is derived from the words "bos," meaning forest or woods, and "man," meaning person. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to carry the name likely lived near a wooded area or worked as foresters or woodcutters. By the time the family was firmly established in Rotterdam in 1815, the name had become a fixed hereditary surname passed down through generations. During this period, Rotterdam was a rapidly growing port city, and families like the Bosmans were often involved in the trade, shipping, and labor industries that defined the region. The presence of the family in official city records from the early 19th century reflects the transition toward standardized civil registration in the Netherlands, which helped solidify the spelling and lineage of the name for future generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bos
A wooded area or forest.
This name
BosmanAn occupational surname for a person who worked as a forester or woodsman.
also spelled
Bosmann
Bosmans
Related arms
Laere (van) - Flandresimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Debrabandere, Frans. Woordenboek van de familienamen in België en Noord-Frankrijk, 2003
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
