A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bossy family of Belgium.
Reg. 4485 · Belgian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
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. à l'aigle ép. de sa.”
Belgiumc. 1737
Where the Bossy Arms Were Recorded
Brabant
Map of Belgium showing where the Bossy arms are recorded
The Bossy arms were recorded in Belgium, c. 1737.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Brabant.
Brabant lay at the heart of the Low Countries, where the trade routes met. Its towns were wealthy and its landowners many, and both kinds of family kept arms, which is why the region is so heavily represented.
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 Belgium in this period.
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
1711–1740
Reigning in Belgium when the Bossy arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Belgium
In Belgium, a coat of arms is considered personal property that is passed down through the male line to legitimate descendants. Families often use the same shield design across generations to show their shared heritage. If a branch of the family wants to change the design, they must apply for an official update to their specific version of the arms.
Granting authority
The Conseil héraldique is the official body that regulates and approves all coats of arms in Belgium.
How they got arms
Families obtain their coats of arms through formal royal grants or by confirming their historical right to use existing designs.
Where arms were recorded
All approved coats of arms are officially recorded in the public registers of the Conseil héraldique since 1844.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Belgium.
Origin & History of the Bossy Family in Belgium
The surname Bossy has deep roots in the historical region of Brabant, where records confirm the family was well-established by 1737. The name likely originated as a descriptive nickname, as the term often related to physical stature or a bold personality in the local dialects of the time. During the eighteenth century, families in this area were frequently tied to the land and local trade guilds, which helped them maintain a consistent presence in their home villages. As the family grew, members moved through the towns of the Low Countries, adapting to the shifting political boundaries of the era. By settling in Brabant, the early Bossy family became part of a complex social fabric that relied on strong community ties and agricultural stability to survive the challenges of the pre-industrial age.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
bos
A Germanic or Middle Dutch term referring to a wood or forest.
This name
BossyA topographic name for someone who lived near or worked in a wooded area.
also spelled
Bossi
Bosi
Bosee
Related arms
Bossivariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
State Archives in Belgium (Rijksarchief in België), Parochieregisters van Brabant
De Flines, A. L., Naamkunde van de Zuidelijke Nederlanden, 1954
Leys, O., De familienamen in de Zuidelijke Nederlanden, 1970
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eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
