Map of France showing where the Bourque arms are recorded
The Bourque arms were recorded in Lorraine, c. 1624.
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.
Louis XIII of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIII of France
1617–1643
Reigning in France when the Bourque 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 Bourque Family in France
The surname Bourque finds its early roots in the French region of Lorraine, where records confirm the family was established by at least 1624. The name is derived from the Old French word "bourg," which referred to a fortified town or a small settlement. Families who carried this name were often associated with these central trading hubs, suggesting that early ancestors may have been merchants, craftsmen, or residents of a local administrative center. As the family grew, members spread across various French provinces, eventually becoming part of the migration to North America during the seventeenth century. Their history is deeply tied to the development of early French society, reflecting a transition from life in the structured towns of Lorraine to the challenges of building new communities abroad.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
burg
A fortified place, castle, or town.
This name
BourqueRefers to a person who lived near or worked within a fortified settlement or castle.
also spelled
Bouk
Buk
Book
Buque
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Arsenault, Bona. Histoire et généalogie des Acadiens, 1978
White, Stephen A. Dictionnaire généalogique des familles acadiennes, 1999
Archives nationales d'outre-mer, Fonds des archives du secrétariat d'État à la Marine, Series E
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
goatOne who wins by diplomacy rather than force
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
goatOne who wins by diplomacy rather than force
