A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Boss family of Germany.
Reg. 6529 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
pawStrength held ready, the beast's power in a single limb
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 patte de lion d'or, mouv. du flanc sen., tenant un tronc d'arbre au nat. en pal, poussant à dextre et à sen. deux épis d'or. Cq. cour. C.: le tronc avec ses épis, entre un vol coupé alt. de gu. et d'arg. L. d'arg. et de gu.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Boss Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Boss arms are recorded
The Boss 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 Boss 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 Boss Family in Germany
The surname Boss has deep roots in the German-speaking regions of Europe, with records confirming that families bearing this name were established in Bavaria by 1765. The name likely originated as a descriptive term or a nickname, as the word "Boss" in Middle High German relates to the concept of a master, a leader, or a person of significant status within a local community. During the eighteenth century, families with this name were often involved in agriculture or skilled trades, which were the primary ways people identified themselves in the Bavarian countryside. As these families grew and moved across the region, the name became a permanent marker of their heritage and social standing. By the mid-1700s, the Boss family was well-integrated into the local administrative and social structures of southern Germany, reflecting a long history of community involvement and steady development in the Bavarian heartland.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
bose
Middle High German term meaning angry, wicked, or bad.
This name
BossA descriptive nickname for a person with a grumpy or ill-tempered disposition.
also spelled
Bos
Boss
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, Kurbayern Hofkammer: Steuer- und Katasterwesen, 1765
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
pawStrength held ready, the beast's power in a single limb
pawStrength held ready, the beast's power in a single limb
