A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Borman family lines. Documented in 3 countries.
Reg. 4478 · Britain, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'herm. à la bande coticée de sa., ch. de trois hures de sanglier coupées d'or. C.: une tête et col de boeuf d'or, accornée de sa.”
SomersetSomerset, c. 1700
Where the Borman Arms Were Recorded
Somerset
Map of Britain showing where the Borman arms are recorded
The Borman arms were recorded in Somerset, c. 1700.
Somerset was rich farming country with a thick scattering of manor houses. Its gentry were numerous and long-settled, and a settled landed family almost always ended up with 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 Britain in this period.
William III of England
Sovereign of the period
William III of England
1694–1702
Reigning in Britain when the Borman arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Britain
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 Somerset.
Origin & History of the Borman Family in Britain
The family name Borman has deep roots in the English landscape, with historical records placing members of the family in the county of Somerset by the year 1700. The name likely originated as a descriptive occupational title, possibly referring to a person who worked as a bowman or a keeper of a gate. During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, families in rural Somerset were often tied to the land through farming or local trades. As the Borman family established themselves in this region, they became part of the local social fabric, appearing in parish registers that tracked baptisms, marriages, and burials. These early records suggest that the family lived through a period of significant agricultural and social change in the West Country. By settling in Somerset, the Bormans helped build the local communities that defined life in England long before the industrial age transformed the nation.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. au lion d'arg., lamp. et cour. d'or. Cq. cour. C.: le lion, iss. (Arm. v. G.)”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Borman Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Borman arms are recorded
The Borman arms were recorded in Netherlands, c. 1815.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Friesland.
Friesland was low, wet country on the northern coast of the Netherlands, farmed by families who had held the same land for centuries. Free landholders were unusually common there, and a free landholder could carry 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.
Region
Friesland
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Borman Arms
Hoge Raad van Adel
Photograph made by me · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Netherlands in this period.
William I of the Netherlands
Sovereign of the period
William I of the Netherlands
1815–1840
Reigning in Britain when the Borman arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Netherlands
In the Netherlands, coats of arms were often used by noble families and those who held specific public offices. These arms were passed down through the generations to legitimate descendants. Younger branches of a family usually kept the original design without needing to add special marks. This system ensured that the family identity remained clear and consistent over many years.
Granting authority
The Hoge Raad van Adel is the official body that regulates and manages noble titles and coats of arms in the Netherlands.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through official royal grants or by proving their long-standing historical use of the symbols.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms are officially recorded in the registers held by the Hoge Raad van Adel, which began its work in 1814.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Netherlands.
Origin & History of the Borman Family in Netherlands
The surname Borman has deep roots in the northern regions of the Netherlands, particularly within the province of Friesland. By the early 19th century, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in Frisian communities. The name likely originated as a descriptive term for a person who lived near a specific landmark or held a particular occupation, as was common practice in the region before the formal registration of surnames became mandatory. In 1811, Napoleon Bonaparte ordered all citizens in the Netherlands to adopt permanent family names for tax and military purposes. This transition helped solidify the Borman name in official government registers, allowing historians to track the family’s movement from rural Frisian villages into the broader Dutch landscape during the industrial growth of the 1800s. The presence of the family in Friesland by 1815 suggests they were part of the local agricultural or trade classes that helped shape the social fabric of the northern provinces during the formation of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Erm. on a bend cottised sa. three boars' heads couped or”
DevonshireDevonshire, c. 1620
Where the Borman Arms Were Recorded
Devonshire
Map of England showing where the Borman arms are recorded
The Borman arms were recorded in Devonshire, c. 1620.
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 Britain when the Borman 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 Devonshire.
Origin & History of the Borman Family in England
The family name Borman has deep roots in the English landscape, with historical records placing members of the family in the county of Devonshire as early as 1620. The name likely originated as a descriptive occupational surname, often linked to individuals who served as a "bowman" or a forest official known as a "bower." During the seventeenth century, Devonshire was a region defined by its rugged coastline and agricultural traditions, providing a stable environment for families to establish their lives and livelihoods. As the name spread through local parishes, it became tied to the social and economic fabric of the West Country. These early Bormans were part of a growing class of English citizens whose lives were documented in local church registers and land records, marking the beginning of a long family history in the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Burman
An inhabitant of a borough or a dweller in a fortified town.
This name
BormanA locational surname referring to someone who lived in or near a fortified settlement.
also spelled
Bormann
Bormans
Bormane
Bormen
Bormon
Related arms
Bowerman, or Bowremansame arms
Burnmansimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dunning, Robert, A History of Somerset, 1983
Somerset Archives, Parish Registers of Somerset, 1538–1900
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
lionCourage, strength and royalty
