A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Board family of England.
Reg. 2881 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
orlePreservation, and protection in battle
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Per fesse gu. and az. an escutcheon within an orle of martlets ar”
SussexBordhill · Sussex, c. 1620
Where the Board Arms Were Recorded
Sussex
Map of England showing where the Board arms are recorded
The Board arms were recorded in Sussex, c. 1620.
Sussex had ironworks in its woods and good farmland on its downs. Both made money, and families who made it bought manors, which is what put their names in the heraldic records.
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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Board arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Sussex.
Origin & History of the Board Family in England
The surname Board is primarily associated with the county of Sussex, where the family established deep roots by the early seventeenth century. Historically, the name is classified as an occupational or topographical surname, likely derived from the Middle English word "bord," which referred to a wooden plank, a table, or a small cottage. It is probable that the earliest individuals to carry this name were either skilled woodworkers who crafted boards for construction or people who lived near a prominent wooden structure. By 1620, the Board family had become well-established landowners in Sussex, particularly in areas such as Lindfield and Cuckfield. Their presence in these communities suggests they were part of the local gentry or prosperous yeoman class, playing active roles in the agricultural and social development of the region during the Stuart period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
bord
Old English term for a plank, board, or table.
This name
BoardAn occupational name for a carpenter or someone who worked with wooden planks.
also spelled
Borde
Bord
Boord
Related arms
Boord, Borde, or Boardvariant spelling
Boorde, or Bourdevariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Lower, Mark Antony, Patronymica Britannica: A Dictionary of the Family Names of the United Kingdom, 1860
Sussex Record Society, Sussex Wills: 1530–1603, 1915
The National Archives, Probate records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, PROB 11
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
orlePreservation, and protection in battle
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
orlePreservation, and protection in battle
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
