A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bouvet family of France.
Reg. 1018 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bullValour and generosity
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur au boeuf d'or, acc. en chef de trois étoiles du même.”
LorraineLorraine, c. 1610
Where the Bouvet Arms Were Recorded
Lorraine
Map of France showing where the Bouvet arms are recorded
The Bouvet arms were recorded in Lorraine, c. 1610.
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.
Henry IV of France
Sovereign of the period
Henry IV of France
1589–1610
Reigning in France when the Bouvet 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 Bouvet Family in France
The surname Bouvet finds its roots in the historical region of Lorraine, where records confirm the family was well-established by the year 1610. The name itself is likely derived from the Old French word "bouve," which referred to an ox or a bull. In medieval times, such names were often given as nicknames to individuals who were known for their strength or their work as farmers. As the family grew in Lorraine, they became deeply integrated into the local agricultural and social life of the province. By the early 17th century, the Bouvets were part of a stable rural society that relied on the fertile lands of eastern France. Their presence in this region during the early 1600s suggests that they were settled landowners or tradespeople who played a steady role in the development of their local communities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bouve
Derived from the Old French word for an ox or cattle.
This name
BouvetA topographic name for someone who lived near a cattle shed or worked as a herdsman.
also spelled
Bouvey
Bovay
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Albert Dauzat, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Marie-Thérèse Morlet, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Archives départementales de la Meurthe-et-Moselle, Registres paroissiaux de l'ancien duché de Lorraine, 1610
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bullValour and generosity
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
bullValour and generosity
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
