A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Borges family of England.
Reg. 0513 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Ar. a fesse chequy, or and gu. in chief three crosses crosslet fitchée of the third”
KentKent, c. 1620
Where the Borges Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of England showing where the Borges arms are recorded
The Borges arms were recorded in Kent, c. 1620.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats of arms.
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 Borges 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 Kent.
Origin & History of the Borges Family in England
The surname Borges has deep roots that trace back to the Iberian Peninsula, where it originally functioned as a topographic name for people living near a fortress or a fortified town. The name is derived from the Old Occitan word *borg*, which refers to a settlement or a castle. While the name is most famously associated with Portuguese and Spanish heritage, it also appeared in England by the early seventeenth century. Records confirm that members of the Borges family were present in Kent by 1620, likely arriving as part of the movement of merchants and skilled workers across European borders during that era. These early settlers helped integrate the name into the local English landscape, marking the transition of the family from its Mediterranean origins into the social fabric of southeastern England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
burgus
A fortified place, castle, or small settlement.
This name
BorgesRefers to a person who lived near or within a fortified town or castle.
also spelled
Borgis
Borgus
Related arms
Bradgessimilar arms
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Dauzat, Albert. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France. 1951
Machado, José Pedro. Dicionário Onomástico Etimológico da Língua Portuguesa. 1981
The National Archives, Kew. State Papers Domestic, James I. 1620
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
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
cross symbolChristian faith and service
