Bouchier History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The history of the name Bouchier goes back 1066 when the Norman Conquest of England occurred. Soon after this event, the name would have been given to a person who frequently used the informal Norman greeting beu sire, which means good sir, or fine sir. 1
Another source presumes the name could have been from the French word "bussiere," and literally meant "dweller in the place planted with bushes." 2
"Bourcher or Bourchier are not the original form of this great name, which, derived from Boursseres in Burgundy, passed through various stages of transmutation as Berseres, Bursers, Boussers, Burcer, Bowser (as it is given by Duchesne) Burghcher, &c, &c, before it finally reached the one in which it is familiar to us. Urso de Berseres, in 1086, held Senly in Buckinghamshire 3 and Sylvester de Bursers, in 1165, was a tenant of the Honour of Clare, in Suffolk 4. " 5
Early Origins of the Bouchier family
The surname Bouchier was first found in Essex. They were originally from Bouchier in Normandy, and arrived in England with Duke William in 1066. 6
John de Bourchier (d.circa 1330) was an English Judge of the Common Pleas and the earliest ancestor of the family. His son, Robert Bourchier or Boussier was 1st Baron Bourchier (died 1349) and held the position of Lord Chancellor of England, the first layman to hold the post. His son, John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Bourchier (d. 1400), was a soldier and diplomat. 7
"The eldest of the sons, Henry Earl of Ewe and Essex, Lord Treasurer of England, was grandfather of Henry, the second and last Earl of Essex, a gallant courtier of his day, and captain of Henry the Eighth's body guard, who attended his royal master into France as Lieut.-General of all the Spears: and at the famous tournament which Henry held in the eighth year of his reign, the Earl of Essex, with the King himself, the Duke of Suffolk, and Nicholas Carew, answered all comers. A few years after, his lordship again attended his sovereign to France, and swelled the pageantry upon the field of the Cloth of Gold. The Earl died in consequence of a fall from his horse in 1539, and his barony of Bourchier was eventually inherited by the descendants of his sister Cicely." 8
Early History of the Bouchier family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bouchier research. Another 107 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1066, 1400, 1405, 1409, 1467, 1491, 1533, 1535, 1551, 1587, 1589, 1595, 1605, 1643, 1654 and 1660 are included under the topic Early Bouchier History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Bouchier Spelling Variations
The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Bouchier has been recorded under many different variations, including Bowser, Bouchier, Boucher, Bourchier, Bowesar, Bowsher and many more.
Early Notables of the Bouchier family
Outstanding amongst the family at this time was
- John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Bourchier (d. 1400), soldier and diplomat in the service of the crown; Bartholomew Bourchier, 3rd Baron Bourchier (died 1409), member of Parliament, summoned to Parliament th...
Migration of the Bouchier family to Ireland
Some of the Bouchier family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 47 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Bouchier migration to the United States +
To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Bouchiers were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America:
Bouchier Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
- Herbert Eustace Bouchier, aged 30, originally from London, arrived in New York in 1903 aboard the ship "Cedric" from Liverpool, England 9
- Annie A. Bouchier, aged 27, originally from London, arrived in New York in 1903 aboard the ship "Cedric" from Liverpool, England 9
- Patrick J. Bouchier, aged 26, originally from Drumkeenan, arrived in New York in 1906 aboard the ship "Teutonic" from Queenstown, Ireland 9
- Louis Bouchier, aged 38, originally from Montreal, arrived in New York in 1906 aboard the ship "La Provence" from Havre, France 9
- Francis Bouchier, aged 24, originally from Dromahair, Ireland, arrived in New York in 1910 aboard the ship "Columbia" from Londonderry, Ireland 9
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Bouchier migration to New Zealand +
Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:
Bouchier Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
- John Bouchier, aged 20, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alumbagh" in 1875 10
Contemporary Notables of the name Bouchier (post 1700) +
- Barton Bouchier (1794-1864), English religious writer, son of the vicar of Epsom, Surrey, the Rev. Jonathan Boucher 11
- Chili Bouchier (1909-1999), later known as Dorothy Bouchier, a British film actress
- Air Vice Marshal Sir Cecil Arthur Bouchier Bouchier KBE, CB, DFC (1895-1979), British officer who served with the British Army, Royal Flying Corps, Indian Air Force and Royal Air Force from 1915 to 1953
- George Bouchier Worgan (1757-1838), English naval surgeon who accompanied the First Fleet to Australia
Citations +
- Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
- Liber Niger Scutarii ("Black Book of the Exchequer"), containing reports by county on feudal holdings in England in 1166 (reign of Henry II)
- Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 1 of 3
- The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
- Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
- Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
- Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
- New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
- Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 5 Feb. 2019