A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bossart family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 4251 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'arg. à trois roses de gu.; aux 2 et 3 d'arg. au cerf élancé au nat., soutenu d'une terrasse de sin. Cq. cour. C.: un cerf iss., au nat. L. d'arg. et de gu.”
WestphaliaLimb · Westphalia, c. 1716
Where the Bossart Arms Were Recorded
Westphalia
Map of Germany showing where the Bossart arms are recorded
The Bossart arms were recorded in Westphalia, c. 1716.
Westphalia was a land of small estates and fortified farmhouses in western Germany. Its families were numerous and not especially rich, but each held its own ground, and holding ground was what brought 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 Germany in this period.
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
1711–1740
Reigning in Germany when the Bossart 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 Westphalia.
Origin & History of the Bossart Family in Germany
The surname Bossart finds its roots in the German-speaking regions of Europe, where it functioned as a descriptive name for individuals who held positions of authority or managed land. Historical records confirm that members of the Bossart family were established in the Westphalia region by the year 1716. During this era, Westphalia was a landscape defined by small farming communities and a rigid social structure. Families like the Bossarts were often tied to the local agricultural economy, serving as stewards or village leaders who helped organize daily life and trade. As the name spread through the German states, it evolved alongside the local dialects, reflecting the transition from feudal obligations to more settled, independent family units. This early presence in Westphalia suggests that the family was deeply integrated into the regional history of the Holy Roman Empire, participating in the slow growth of rural society long before the modern nation-state emerged.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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'arg. au croiss. de sa., acc. de neuf merlettes du même, rangées en orle. - Ou: D'arg. à trois croiss. de sa.”
BretagneBretagne, c. 1663
Where the Bossart Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Bossart arms are recorded
The Bossart arms were recorded in Bretagne, c. 1663.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 Germany when the Bossart 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 Bretagne.
Origin & History of the Bossart Family in France
The family name Bossart has deep roots in the historical landscape of France, with documented evidence placing members of the lineage in the region of Bretagne as early as 1663. The name likely originated as a descriptive term or a nickname, as it is linguistically linked to the Old French word "bosse," which refers to a hump or a rounded protrusion. In a medieval context, such names were often given to individuals based on their physical appearance or perhaps their occupation as skilled craftsmen who worked with rounded materials. By the mid-seventeenth century, families bearing this name had established themselves within the social fabric of western France, where they participated in the local agricultural and community life of the Breton provinces. As the name spread through the region, it evolved alongside the local dialects, reflecting the transition from feudal society to the more structured administrative systems of the French monarchy.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bussard
A bird of prey known as the common buzzard.
This name
BossartA topographic name for someone living near a buzzard's nesting site.
also spelled
Bossard
Bosart
Related arms
Bossaertvariant spelling
Bossardvariant spelling
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
Heimatverein Westfalen, Westfälische Zeitschrift: Zeitschrift für vaterländische Geschichte und Altertumskunde, 1910
Landesarchiv Nordrhein-Westfalen, Kirchenbücher der evangelischen und katholischen Kirchengemeinden in Westfalen, 1716
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
