A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bordes family of France.
Reg. 5798 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 une tour de gu.”
NormandieNormandie, c. 1663
Where the Bordes Arms Were Recorded
Normandie
Map of France showing where the Bordes arms are recorded
The Bordes arms were recorded in Normandie, c. 1663.
Normandie held a dense crowd of knightly families on some of the best farmland in France. Its men had fought and settled abroad for generations, and a family that sent sons to war needed a shield they could be recognised by.
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 Bordes 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 Normandie.
Origin & History of the Bordes Family in France
The family name Bordes originates from the medieval French word "borde," which referred to a small farm or a humble cottage. During the Middle Ages, this term was used to describe the modest dwellings of tenant farmers who worked the land for larger estates. Families who carried this name were often associated with these rural settlements, suggesting that the earliest ancestors were hardworking people deeply connected to the agricultural landscape of France. By 1663, records confirm that members of the Bordes family were well-established in the region of Normandie. At this time, the family was part of the social fabric of northern France, likely contributing to the local farming communities and the developing economy of the province. Over generations, the name transitioned from a simple description of a home into a lasting family identity that reflects a long history of resilience and rural life.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Borda
A Germanic or Occitan term for a small hut or cabin.
This name
BordesRefers to someone who lived in or worked at a small farmstead or cottage.
also spelled
Bordez
Bord
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille 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.
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
