A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bosscher family of France.
Reg. 8889 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
squirrelPatience and foresight in gathering
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur à une étoile en chef à dextre, un croiss. à sen. et un écureuil en p., le tout d'or [Comp. Bricxscilt.]”
FlandreFlandre, c. 1663
Where the Bosscher Arms Were Recorded
Flandre
Map of France showing where the Bosscher arms are recorded
The Bosscher arms were recorded in Flandre, c. 1663.
Flandre grew rich on cloth, and its towns were among the busiest in Europe. Merchant families bought land with their profits and took arms to go with it, so trade put as many names in the registers here as land did.
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 France when the Bosscher 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 Flandre.
Origin & History of the Bosscher Family in France
The family name Bosscher finds its roots in the historic region of Flanders, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1663. The name is linguistically linked to the Middle Dutch word "bosscher," which historically referred to someone who worked in or lived near a forest. During the seventeenth century, the landscape of Flanders was defined by its dense woodlands and agricultural expansion, making this a common occupational or locational descriptor for families in the area. As people began to adopt permanent surnames to distinguish themselves in growing communities, the name Bosscher became a way to identify individuals based on their connection to the local environment. Over time, the family established itself within the social fabric of the region, transitioning from these early rural origins into the documented history of the Low Countries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bos
A Germanic term referring to a wood, forest, or thicket.
This name
BosscherA topographic surname for someone who lived near or worked in a forest.
also spelled
Boscher
Bosschier
Bosker
Related arms
Bricxsciltsimilar arms
Boschervariant spelling
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. 1993
State Archives in Belgium (Rijksarchief), Parochieregisters van de provincie West-Vlaanderen
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
squirrelPatience and foresight in gathering
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
squirrelPatience and foresight in gathering
