A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Boucaud family of France.
Reg. 0649 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. au lion d'or, acc. en chef de trois étoiles rangées du même et en p. d'un croiss. d'arg.”
GuyenneGuyenne, c. 1663
Where the Boucaud Arms Were Recorded
Guyenne
Map of France showing where the Boucaud arms are recorded
The Boucaud arms were recorded in Guyenne, c. 1663.
Guyenne was the great wine country of south-western France, shipping claret to England for centuries. The trade made merchant families rich, they bought vineyards and estates with the money, and land of that kind brought arms with it.
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 Boucaud 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 Guyenne.
Origin & History of the Boucaud Family in France
The family name Boucaud has deep roots in the historical province of Guyenne, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1663. This region, located in southwestern France, was a center of agricultural and viticultural life during the seventeenth century. The name itself is thought to be derived from the Occitan language, which was commonly spoken in the area at the time. It likely functioned as a descriptive nickname or a reference to a specific local landmark, as was common practice for surnames developing in rural French communities. By settling in Guyenne, the early Boucaud family became part of a vibrant society defined by its unique regional customs and its role in the trade networks that connected the inland territories to the port of Bordeaux.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bouc
Derived from the Old French word for a male goat.
This name
BoucaudA locative or occupational surname likely referring to a goat herder or someone living near a goat farm.
also spelled
Boucauld
Boucaude
Booko
Related arms
Boucaultvariant spelling
Boucotvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Gironde, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Boudet, Marcellin, Études sur les noms de famille en Guyenne, 1895
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
