A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bosworth family of Britain.
Reg. 9300 · Britain, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
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 au lion d'or; au chef du même. C.: un onceau assis au nat., coll. d'une couronne d'or. D.: QUOD DIXI DIXI.”
LeicestershireLeicestershire, c. 1660
Where the Bosworth Arms Were Recorded
Leicestershire
Map of Britain showing where the Bosworth arms are recorded
The Bosworth arms were recorded in Leicestershire, c. 1660.
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 Britain in this period.
Charles II of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles II of England
1660–1685
Reigning in Britain when the Bosworth arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Britain
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 Leicestershire.
Origin & History of the Bosworth Family in Britain
The surname Bosworth is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. It is derived from the Old English words "bōs," which refers to a cattle stall or ox-stall, and "worth," which describes an enclosure or a homestead. Consequently, the name originally identified someone who lived at or near a farmstead used for cattle. By the time family members were documented in Leicestershire in 1660, the name was already well-established in the region, particularly near the town of Market Bosworth. This area is historically significant as the site of the final battle of the Wars of the Roses, which took place in 1485. Families carrying this name likely lived in this rural landscape for generations, working the land and identifying themselves by the specific geography of their ancestral home.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bosa and worth
Bosa is a personal name and worth means an enclosure or homestead.
This name
BosworthRefers to an enclosure or settlement belonging to a person named Bosa.
also spelled
Dixie
Bosworth
Dixie-Bosworth
Diksi de Bosworth
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Ekwall, Eilert. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names. 1960
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M. A Dictionary of English Surnames. 1991
Leicestershire Record Office. Quarter Sessions Records, 1660
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
