Map of France showing where the Buswell arms are recorded
The Buswell arms were recorded in Northamptonshire, c. 1660.
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 Buswell 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 Northamptonshire.
Origin & History of the Buswell Family in France
The surname Buswell is an English locative name, which means it likely originated from a specific place or geographical feature. Etymologists often trace the name to the Old French word "bos," meaning wood or thicket, combined with the Old English "wielle," which refers to a spring or stream. This suggests that the earliest families bearing this name lived near a wooded spring. By the mid-17th century, the Buswell family had established a notable presence in Northamptonshire. Records from 1660 indicate that members of the family were settled in this region, where they were often involved in local landholding and agriculture. During this period, the family became well-integrated into the social fabric of the English Midlands, contributing to the rural economy and community life of the county.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bous
Derived from the Old French word for a wood or thicket.
This name
BuswellRefers to someone who lived near a wooded area or a thicket.
also spelled
Buswel de Clipston
Buswelle de Clipston
Buswill de Clipston
Buswell
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1997
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
