A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bordas family of France.
Reg. 2647 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à un oiseau au nat., accosté de deux arbres de sin. sur une terrasse du même, et acc. en chef d'une maison au nat.”
RoussillonRoussillon, c. 1663
Where the Bordas Arms Were Recorded
Roussillon
Map of France showing where the Bordas arms are recorded
The Bordas arms were recorded in Roussillon, c. 1663.
Roussillon was Pyrenean country that belonged to Spain before it belonged to France. Its families held small estates under both crowns, and serving either one brought a shield.
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 Bordas 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 Roussillon.
Origin & History of the Bordas Family in France
The family name Bordas has deep roots in the Roussillon region, a historic province located in the foothills of the Pyrenees mountains. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were already well-established within this area, which had recently transitioned from Spanish to French rule following the Treaty of the Pyrenees. The name itself is likely derived from the Occitan word "borda," which historically referred to a small farm or a rustic hut used by tenant farmers. This suggests that the early ancestors of the Bordas family were likely agricultural workers or landholders who played a vital role in the rural economy of the Catalan-speaking borderlands. Over generations, the family became integrated into the local community, living through the significant political and cultural shifts that defined this unique region between France and Spain.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
borda
A small hut, cabin, or farm building of rustic origin.
This name
BordasRefers to a person who lived in or worked at a small farmstead or hut.
also spelled
Bordaz
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Capeille, Jean, Dictionnaire de biographies roussillonnaises, 1914
Sahlins, Peter, Boundaries: The Making of France and Spain in the Pyrenees, 1989
Archives départementales des Pyrénées-Orientales, Série E: Familles et seigneuries
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
