Map of France showing where the Bordelon arms are recorded
The Bordelon arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 Bordelon 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 France.
Origin & History of the Bordelon Family in France
The Bordelon family name finds its historical roots in the region of Bretagne, France, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1663. The name is considered a topographic surname, which means it likely originated from a description of the land where the family first lived. In the local dialects of the time, the prefix suggests a connection to a small border or a specific edge of a cultivated field. During the seventeenth century, families in this part of France were often tied closely to the agricultural life of their rural parishes. As the family grew, some members eventually migrated from these coastal lands to seek new opportunities in the French colonies of North America. This transition marked a significant shift in the family history as they moved from the traditional farming life of Bretagne to the developing frontier of the New World.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bord
A border, edge, or boundary of a piece of land.
This name
BordelonA diminutive form referring to someone who lived near the edge of a field or boundary.
also spelled
Bourdelod
Burdelo
Burdelot
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d’Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
