Boocker History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England-Alt
England

When the ancestors of the Boocker family arrived in England following the Norman Conquest of 1066, they brought their name with them. It is a name for a dealer or maker of books, or anyone whose affairs were otherwise concerned with books. The distinguished name Boocker is derived from the Old English boker. 1 Alternatively, the name could have been Anglo Saxon for "bocere," a writer, doctor, interpreter. 2 And yet another source claims the name was occupational for "the butcher." 3

Early Origins of the Boocker family

The surname Boocker was first found in Lancashire where the spelling variations of the name are numerous. Bowker was typically a Lancashire variant while in London "in the pedigree of Booker (London Visitation, 1633-5) the following variations occur: John Booker, John Boochard, and Edmund Boocher." 3

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 had two listings: John Boker, Norfolk; and William le Bocer, Salop (Shropshire.)

Early History of the Boocker family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Boocker research. Another 121 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1250, 1273, 1603, 1631 and 1667 are included under the topic Early Boocker History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Boocker Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Booker, Boocker, Bouker and others.

Early Notables of the Boocker family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was John Booker (1603-1667), English astrologer, was born at Manchester 23 March 1603. He was "he son of John Bowker (commonly pronounced Booker), of Manchester. 3 "He was originally apprenticed to a haberdasher in London, and was subsequently a writing-master at...
Another 47 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Boocker Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Boocker family

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Boocker or a variant listed above: Anne Booker, who settled in Maryland in 1775; Margaret Booker settled in Virginia in 1654 with her daughter, Mary. Richard Booker settled in New England in 1758.

The Boocker Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Ad coelum tendit
Motto Translation: He directs his course towards heaven

Citations +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)