Map of England showing where the Bostwick arms are recorded
The Bostwick arms were recorded in Berks, c. 1620.
Berkshire sat on the road west from London with the royal castle at Windsor in the middle of it. Court families bought estates within reach, and an estate near the court almost always came with a coat of 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 Bostwick 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 Berks.
Origin & History of the Bostwick Family in England
The Bostwick family name finds its roots in the English county of Berkshire, where records confirm members of the family were established by the early 17th century. The name is locational in origin, meaning it likely derived from a specific place or settlement known as Bostwick. During the 1620s, the family was part of the local community in Berks, living through a period of significant social and economic change in England. As the century progressed, the name began to spread as family members sought new opportunities, eventually leading to the migration of some individuals to the American colonies. This transition marked the beginning of the family’s long history in North America, where they became part of the early colonial population.
Bostwick Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Bost-wic
Old English for a farmstead or dwelling place near a wood.
This name
BostwickDerived from a locational surname referring to a settlement situated near a wooded area.
also spelled
Bostoke
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Banks, Charles Edward, Topographical Dictionary of 2885 English Emigrants to New England 1620–1650, 1937
Bostwick, Arthur Elmore, Genealogical Record of the Descendants of Arthur Bostwick of Stratford, Conn., 1901
The National Archives, Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers, 1384–1858
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
helmetWisdom and security in defence
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
helmetWisdom and security in defence
