A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Born family lines. Documented in 3 countries.
Reg. 3778 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Parti de sa. et d'or; à la fasce ondée de gu. (ou d'azur), br. sur le parti. C.: un vol, de sa. (ou d'azur) et d'or. - Ou: Parti d'or et de sa.; à la fasce ondée d'arg., br. sur le parti. C.: un vol, d'or et de sa., chaque aile ch. d'une fasce ondée d'arg.”
GermanyCologne, c. 1765
Where the Born Arms Were Recorded
Cologne
Map of Germany showing where the Born arms are recorded
The Born arms were recorded in Cologne, c. 1765.
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 Germany in this period.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Born arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
In the Holy Roman Empire, coats of arms were often granted to individuals by the Emperor or his representatives. These arms were then passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants of the original holder. Younger branches of a family usually kept the same shield design without needing to change it, as the arms belonged to the entire lineage.
Granting authority
The Holy Roman Emperor held the sole power to grant new coats of arms throughout his vast imperial territories.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal imperial grant or by proving their noble status to the authorities.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Imperial Chancery registers, which began keeping formal records of such honors during the Middle Ages.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Germany.
Origin & History of the Born Family in Germany
The surname Born is deeply rooted in the German language and likely originated as a descriptive name for people who lived near a natural spring or a well. In Middle High German, the word "born" was a common term for a source of water, making it a logical identifier for families living in rural areas or near specific landmarks. By the time records place the family in Cologne in 1765, the name had already been established for generations as a way to distinguish individuals within growing urban centers. During the eighteenth century, Cologne was a bustling hub of trade and craftsmanship, and families like the Borns often integrated into the city’s guild systems or merchant classes. As the family navigated life in this historic city, the name served as a stable link to their ancestral connection to the landscape and the vital water sources that sustained early German settlements.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'azur à trois flèches d'arg., posées en pals, rangées en fasce, empennées d'or, le fer de chaque flèche remplacé par une étoile du même; aux 2 et 3 de gu. à un”
Austriac. 1772
Where the Born Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the Born arms are recorded
The Born arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1772.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Tyrol.
Tyrol was mountain country in western Austria, where the valleys were held by families who had been there a very long time. Old tenure counted for more than money, and old families carried 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
Tyrol
First recorded
1772
Granting Authority for the Born Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
1765–1790
Reigning in Germany when the Born arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Austria
Austrian coats of arms were often linked directly to noble titles granted by the Emperor. These symbols belonged to the entire family line rather than just one individual. When a family grew, new branches kept the original design without needing to change it. This system allowed all members of a noble house to share the same identity across many generations.
Granting authority
The Imperial and Royal chancery managed all heraldic matters and controlled the official granting of arms throughout the Austrian lands.
How they got arms
Families typically received their arms through a formal imperial decree that often accompanied the elevation of a person to noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Official records of these grants were kept in the Imperial Register of Nobility which began its formal documentation process in 1453.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Austria.
Origin & History of the Born Family in Austria
The surname Born has deep roots in the mountainous landscape of Tyrol, where families bearing this name were well-established by the late eighteenth century. In the region of Austria, the name likely emerged as a descriptive term linked to the local geography or the specific trade of its earliest ancestors. During the 1700s, Tyrol was a hub of transit and trade between the Germanic north and the Italian south, which influenced how families settled and identified themselves within their communities. By 1772, records confirm that the Born family was already integrated into the social fabric of the region, participating in the agricultural and craft-based economy that defined Tyrolean life at the time. This era was marked by strict record-keeping in local parish registers, which helped track the movement and growth of families as they established their presence in the alpine valleys. The history of the name reflects the resilience of those who lived in these rugged highlands, where they adapted to the changing political and social structures of the Austrian Empire.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur à un faucon d'arg., chaperonné au nat., perché sur un bâton en fasce d'arg., auquel est suspendu sur le”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Born Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Born arms are recorded
The Born 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 Born 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 Germany when the Born 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 Born Family in Netherlands
The surname Born has deep roots in the northern regions of the Netherlands, particularly within the province of Friesland. By the early 19th century, families carrying this name were already well-established in the Frisian landscape. The name itself is often linked to the Old Germanic word for a spring or a well, which suggests that the earliest ancestors may have lived near a prominent water source or a local landmark. In the context of 1815, when the Netherlands began to standardize civil registration, families like the Borns were officially recorded in local census and church registers. This period marked a transition where family names became fixed in government documents, helping to preserve the identity of these Frisian households for future generations. These early records show that the family was part of the traditional social fabric of the region, living through a time of significant political change as the Netherlands emerged as a unified kingdom.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Boran
Old High German word meaning to carry or to bear.
This name
BornRefers to a person who was a carrier or one who bears a burden.
also spelled
Borne
Bornn
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Historisches Archiv der Stadt Köln, Bürgeraufnahmeprotokolle der Stadt Köln, 1765
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