A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Boulais family of France.
Reg. 6392 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. au chev. d'or, acc. de trois bes. du même.”
NormandieNormandie, c. 1663
Where the Boulais Arms Were Recorded
Normandie
Map of France showing where the Boulais arms are recorded
The Boulais arms were recorded in Normandie, c. 1663.
Normandie held a dense crowd of knightly families on some of the best farmland in France. Its men had fought and settled abroad for generations, and a family that sent sons to war needed a shield they could be recognised by.
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 Boulais 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 Normandie.
Origin & History of the Boulais Family in France
The family name Boulais originates from the historic region of Normandy in northern France. The name is derived from the Old French word "boulaie," which refers to a grove or a forest of birch trees. This suggests that the earliest ancestors likely lived near or worked within these specific wooded areas. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the Boulais family were well-established in the Norman landscape. During this period, many families in the region were deeply connected to the land through agriculture and local trade. As the seventeenth century progressed, some individuals bearing this name chose to leave their ancestral home in Normandy to seek new opportunities in the French colonies of North America, carrying their family history and linguistic roots across the Atlantic.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
boule
A round object or a birch tree.
This name
BoulaisDerived from a topographic name for someone living near a birch tree or a round landmark.
also spelled
Boulai
Boulaie
Boulaise
Bulay
Related arms
Boulayvariant 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 nationales d'outre-mer, Fonds des greffes des notaires du régime français
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
