A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Boucher family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 1604 · French, 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
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)
“D'azur à trois têtes de léopard d'arg., lamp. et allumées de gu.; au chef d'or. C.: une tête de léopard de l'écu, entre deux cornes d'abondance.”
LorraineLorraine, c. 1568
Where the Boucher Arms Were Recorded
Lorraine
Map of France showing where the Boucher arms are recorded
The Boucher arms were recorded in Lorraine, c. 1568.
Lorraine sat on the border between France and the German lands, and border country bred soldiers. Families here held small estates and served in arms, and a fighting man was exactly the sort who carried a shield of his own.
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.
Charles IX of France
Sovereign of the period
Charles IX of France
1560–1574
Reigning in France when the Boucher 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 Lorraine.
Origin & History of the Boucher Family in France
The surname Boucher originated in medieval France as an occupational name for a butcher. During the Middle Ages, butchers held a respected position in society because they provided essential food supplies to growing towns and villages. By the year 1568, historical records confirm that members of the Boucher family were well-established in the Lorraine region. This area was a crossroads of European culture and politics at the time. Families living there often navigated complex shifts in power between local dukes and the neighboring French crown. As the name spread across the country, it became one of the most common surnames in France. The family members in Lorraine likely worked in trades or agriculture, contributing to the local economy during a period of significant religious and social change.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Sa. a chev. erm. betw. three leopards pass. guard. or”
EnglandSalisbury, c. 1620
Where the Boucher Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Boucher arms are recorded
The Boucher arms were recorded in Salisbury, 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 France when the Boucher 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 Boucher Family in England
The surname Boucher has deep roots in medieval history, originating as an occupational name for a butcher. In the centuries following the Norman Conquest, the name evolved from the Old French word *bouchier* as families moved across the English Channel and integrated into local communities. By the early 17th century, members of the Boucher family were firmly established in the historic city of York. During this period, York served as a vital northern hub for trade and craftsmanship, providing a stable environment for families to build their livelihoods. The presence of the Bouchers in York by 1620 reflects the broader movement of families who settled in urban centers to participate in the growing merchant and trade networks of the era. These early ancestors helped shape the local identity of the city, transitioning from their ancestral roots in trade to become recognized members of the English provincial society.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
boucher
Old French term for a butcher or slaughterer of animals.
This name
BoucherAn occupational surname for someone who worked as a butcher.
also spelled
Bouchier
Booshay
Butcher
Bowcher
Bouchard
Related arms
Barbillatsame arms
Córdova-Zuletasimilar arms
Durand de Carabellesimilar arms
Bouchiervariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Archives départementales de Meurthe-et-Moselle, Série B: Cours et juridictions (Records of the Duchy of Lorraine)
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chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
