Map of France showing where the Bouthillier arms are recorded
The Bouthillier arms were recorded in France, c. 1725.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Bouthillier 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 France.
Origin & History of the Bouthillier Family in France
The family name Bouthillier finds its historical roots in the western regions of France, particularly within the province of Bretagne. By the early eighteenth century, records confirm that members of this family were well-established in the local communities of this coastal area. The name itself is thought to be occupational in origin, likely derived from the Old French term for a butler or an official responsible for the management of a household or wine cellar. As the family grew, they became integrated into the social and economic fabric of the region, participating in the daily life and administrative duties common to families of their standing in 1725. Over time, the Bouthilliers moved through various parishes, leaving behind a trail of baptismal and marriage records that document their steady presence in the Breton countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bouteille
A vessel or container used for holding liquids.
This name
BouthillierAn occupational surname for a maker or seller of bottles.
also spelled
Bouthilliere de Chavigny
Bootyeer de Shaveeny
Bouthillier
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1725
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
