A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bouy family of France.
Reg. 1803 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
dropletsTears, and grief borne with patience
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à trois larmes d'arg.; au chef du même, ch. de trois roses du champ.”
LyonnaisLyonnais, c. 1663
Where the Bouy Arms Were Recorded
Lyonnais
Map of France showing where the Bouy arms are recorded
The Bouy arms were recorded in Lyonnais, c. 1663.
Lyonnais centred on Lyon, one of the great banking and silk towns of France. Money made in the city bought estates in the countryside around it, and those estates brought arms with them.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Bouy 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 Lyonnais.
Origin & History of the Bouy Family in France
The family name Bouy has deep roots in the historical province of Lyonnais, where members of the family were documented as early as 1663. During the seventeenth century, the region surrounding Lyon was a bustling center for trade, silk production, and agriculture, which likely shaped the daily lives of the family. The name itself is thought to be topographical in origin, often linked to the Old French word "boue" or "boy," which referred to muddy or marshy ground. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to carry the name likely lived near a riverbank or a low-lying area that was prone to damp conditions. As the family established themselves in the Lyonnais countryside, they became part of the local social fabric, contributing to the rural economy and the growth of the region during a time of significant transition in French history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Baud
Derived from the Germanic element bald meaning bold or brave.
This name
BouyA patronymic surname indicating a descendant of someone named Baud or Baldwin.
also spelled
Bouie
Booee
Related arms
Bouicvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives Départementales du Rhône, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Garnier, Jean-Pierre, La vie quotidienne à Lyon au XVIIe siècle, 1974
Moreri, Louis, Le Grand Dictionnaire Historique, 1759
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
dropletsTears, and grief borne with patience
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
dropletsTears, and grief borne with patience
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
