A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Boutcher family of England.
Reg. 3899 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
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. two chevronels betw. as many leopards statant in chief and a fleur-de-lis in base or”
EnglandEmmanuel Boutcher, c. 1620
Where the Boutcher Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Boutcher arms are recorded
The Boutcher arms were recorded in Emmanuel Boutcher, 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 England when the Boutcher 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 Boutcher Family in England
The surname Boutcher is a variant of the occupational name Butcher, which originated in medieval England to describe a person who slaughtered and sold meat. During the Middle Ages, surnames were often adopted based on a person’s trade, and as families grew, these names were passed down through generations. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Boutcher family were well-established in the historic city of York. At that time, York was a major center for commerce and trade in Northern England, providing a stable environment for families to build their livelihoods. The spelling of the name likely shifted over time due to regional dialects and the fact that many people did not have standardized ways of writing their surnames until much later. The presence of the family in York suggests they were part of the growing urban middle class that helped shape the city’s economic life during the early seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
boucher
Old French term for a slaughterer or butcher of meat.
This name
BoutcherAn occupational surname for a person who worked as a butcher.
also spelled
Butcher
Boucher
Related arms
Bouchervariant spelling
Butchervariant 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, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
