A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bourchier family of England.
Reg. 4153 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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. three leopards statant or”
Englandc. 1610
Where the Bourchier Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Bourchier arms are recorded
The Bourchier arms were recorded in England, c. 1610.
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 England when the Bourchier 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 Bourchier Family in England
The Bourchier family name has deep roots that stretch back to the medieval period, eventually establishing a notable presence in the city of York by the early seventeenth century. The name itself is of French origin, likely derived from the word for a maker of purses or a person who worked with leather. As the family moved across regions, they became integrated into the local life of northern England, where they were documented as residents of York as early as 1610. During this era, families with this surname often held positions of civic responsibility or engaged in the active trade networks that defined the city. By settling in such a significant historical hub, the Bourchiers participated in the social and economic growth of the region, leaving a footprint that persisted through generations of local history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
burgeis
A person who lives in a fortified town or borough.
This name
BourchierAn occupational name for a citizen or freeman of a fortified town.
also spelled
Bourshier
Bourchyer
Bursher
Burchier
Bourcher
Related arms
Bouchervariant spelling
Bouchiervariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1610
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
