A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Boyse family of Ireland.
Reg. 3852 · Irish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Gu. from the base a withered tree or”
WaterfordWaterford, c. 1645
Where the Boyse Arms Were Recorded
Waterford
Map of Ireland showing where the Boyse arms are recorded
The Boyse arms were recorded in Waterford, c. 1645.
Waterford was a port with good farming country behind it, settled early by Norman families. Merchants and landowners both prospered, and both sorts of family took 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 Ireland in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Ireland when the Boyse arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Waterford.
Origin & History of the Boyse Family in Ireland
The family name Boyse has deep roots in Ireland, particularly within the historic county of Waterford. By the year 1645, records confirm that members of the Boyse family were already well-established residents in this region. The name is believed to have originated from a descriptive nickname or a locational reference, likely derived from the Old French word bois, which means wood or forest. During the seventeenth century, families with this name were often involved in the complex social and political landscape of post-reformation Ireland. As landowners and local figures, the Boyse family navigated the turbulent events of the mid-1600s, including the Irish Confederate Wars. Their presence in Waterford during this era suggests they were part of the shifting demographic of the time, contributing to the local economy and community development as the region transitioned through significant historical changes.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dubh
An ancient Gaelic term meaning dark or black.
This name
BoyseDerived from the Gaelic name O Buadhaigh, signifying a descendant of the victorious one.
also spelled
Boyes
Bois
Boy
Related arms
Boisvariant spelling
Boyvariant spelling
Boyce, or Boysevariant spelling
Boyesvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland, 1985
National Archives of Ireland, Civil Survey of the County of Waterford, 1654–1656
O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees; or, The Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation, 1892
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treeLife, endurance and deep roots
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
