A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bouyer family of France.
Reg. 5732 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Parti: au 1 d'arg. à trois étoiles de gu., et un coeur du même en p.; au 2 d'azur au lion d'or, arm. et lamp. de gu.”
LimousinLimousin, c. 1663
Where the Bouyer Arms Were Recorded
Limousin
Map of France showing where the Bouyer arms are recorded
The Bouyer arms were recorded in Limousin, c. 1663.
Limousin was upland farming country in central France, poor in money but full of old families. Estates were small and held for a very long time, and long tenure counted for more than wealth when arms were recorded.
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 Bouyer 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 Limousin.
Origin & History of the Bouyer Family in France
The family name Bouyer is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of the Limousin region of France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well-established within this area, which was known for its rugged terrain and traditional agricultural life. The name itself is likely derived from the Old French word "bouyer," which referred to a person who worked as an ox driver or a cattle herder. In the seventeenth century, such occupations were essential to the local economy, as cattle farming played a major role in the livelihood of the Limousin people. As families were often identified by their trade or daily labor, the name reflects a long history of connection to the land and the livestock that sustained the rural communities of central France.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
bovarius
Latin term for a herdsman or someone who tends to oxen.
This name
BouyerAn occupational surname for a cattle farmer or a person who works with oxen.
also spelled
Bouye
Booyay
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Archives départementales de la Haute-Vienne, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
lionCourage, strength and royalty
