Map of England showing where the Boston arms are recorded
The Boston arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried 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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Boston arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Boston Family in England
The surname Boston is a locative name, which means it was originally adopted by people to identify the specific town or region where they lived. Historical records confirm that members of the Boston family were established in the city of York by 1620. During this period, the name was likely used to distinguish individuals who had migrated to the city from the coastal town of Boston in Lincolnshire. As people began to move more frequently for trade and work in the early seventeenth century, using a place name as a surname became a common way to track a person's origins. By settling in a major hub like York, these early family members became part of a growing urban population that relied on clear naming conventions to manage legal and property records. This transition from a geographical identifier to a permanent family name reflects the social shifts occurring in England as families moved away from their ancestral homes to seek new opportunities in larger cities.
Boston Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Botolph
Derived from the Old English elements bot meaning messenger and ulf meaning wolf.
This name
BostonA habitational name referring to the town of Saint Botolph's Stone in Lincolnshire.
also spelled
Bostoun
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
York City Archives, York Freemen’s Register, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
