A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bucey family of France.
Reg. 2277 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
water bougetThe crusader's water carrier, and a journey made
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Or, three water-bougets az”
Francec. 1663
Where the Bucey Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Bucey arms are recorded
The Bucey arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Bucey 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 Bucey Family in France
The family name Bucey traces its roots to the historic region of Bretagne in northwestern France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well-established within this coastal territory. The name likely originated as a locative surname, which was a common practice in medieval France to identify individuals based on the specific village or estate where they lived. During the seventeenth century, Bretagne was a distinct province with its own unique cultural traditions and language, and families living there were often deeply connected to the local agricultural and maritime economy. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the region, participating in the daily life and administrative record-keeping of their local parishes. This early presence in Bretagne suggests that the ancestors of the Bucey family were settled, land-holding individuals who helped shape the history of their community long before the name spread to other parts of the world.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Boscus
A Latin term referring to a wood, forest, or thicket.
This name
BuceyA topographic name for someone who lived near or worked within a wooded area.
also spelled
Bucy
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B (Cour de justice et juridictions seigneuriales)
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Morvan, Françoise, Bretagne est une universalité, 2001
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
water bougetThe crusader's water carrier, and a journey made
water bougetThe crusader's water carrier, and a journey made
