A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bouquin family of France.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defenceJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“De gu. à deux pals, coupés d'or”
The Bouquin arms were recorded in Provence, c. 1663.
Provence was old country, with towns dating to the Romans and families who traced their land back nearly as far. Its gentry were many and long-settled, and long settlement is what fills a register.
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.
Reigning in France when the Bouquin arms are first recorded.
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.
The surname Bouquin traces its roots to the historical region of Provence in southern France, where the family was firmly established by the year 1663. The name itself is derived from the Old French word "bouquin," which originally referred to a male goat or a buck. In the context of medieval naming customs, this term was often used as a descriptive nickname for a person who possessed a lively, stubborn, or energetic personality. By the seventeenth century, families in Provence were increasingly adopting fixed surnames to distinguish themselves within their growing local communities. As the Bouquin family settled into the agricultural and social life of the region, they became part of the vibrant tapestry of Provençal history, likely working as farmers or tradespeople who contributed to the local economy. Their presence in the area during this period reflects the broader patterns of migration and family development that defined life in rural France before the modern era.
A male goat or billy goat.
