A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Borne family lines. Documented in 3 countries.
Reg. 4432 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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 un ours ramp. de sa., arm. et lamp. de gu.”
LanguedocLanguedoc, c. 1663
Where the Borne Arms Were Recorded
Languedoc
Map of France showing where the Borne arms are recorded
The Borne arms were recorded in Languedoc, c. 1663.
Languedoc stretched across the south of France, a country of small towns, vineyards and old local families. Its gentry were numerous rather than grand, and a great many of them held arms even where their estates were modest.
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 Borne 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 Languedoc.
Origin & History of the Borne Family in France
The surname Borne is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of southern France, particularly within the Languedoc region. During the seventeenth century, the name was associated with families living in rural areas where the topography often dictated local identities. In the Occitan language, the word "borna" refers to a boundary marker or a hollow, suggesting that the earliest bearers of the name likely lived near a prominent landmark or a specific geographical feature that defined their community. By 1663, records confirm that members of the Borne family were well-established in this region, participating in the agricultural and social life of their parishes. As the family grew, they became part of the complex social fabric of Languedoc, navigating the shifting political and religious tides that defined life in the French provinces during the reign of Louis XIV.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
batonAuthority and office held under the crown
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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'arg. à un étui de crosse de gu. C.: le meuble de l'écu, orné le long du dos de trois boules”
SwabiaSwabia, c. 1765
Where the Borne Arms Were Recorded
Swabia
Map of Germany showing where the Borne arms are recorded
The Borne arms were recorded in Swabia, c. 1765.
Swabia was broken into a great many small territories in southern Germany, and each had its own landowners and its own leading townsmen. That fragmentation produced an unusual number of families 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 Germany in this period.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in France when the Borne 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 Swabia.
Origin & History of the Borne Family in Germany
The surname Borne is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of southwestern Germany, particularly within the region of Swabia. By the mid-18th century, families bearing this name were well-established in local communities, where they were often identified by their connection to the land or specific geographic features. The name itself is thought to derive from the Middle High German word "born," which refers to a spring, well, or fountain. This suggests that the earliest ancestors likely lived near a prominent water source or served as caretakers for a communal well. In the rural society of 1765 Swabia, such a name would have served as a clear identifier for neighbors and local officials, linking the family’s identity to the essential natural resources that sustained their village life. As these families grew and moved through the German states, the name remained a testament to their long-standing presence in the fertile valleys and rolling hills of the Swabian countryside.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 az. three lions pass. guard. or”
KentKent, c. 1620
Where the Borne Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of England showing where the Borne arms are recorded
The Borne 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 France when the Borne 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 Borne Family in England
The surname Borne is rooted in the Old English word "burna," which refers to a stream or a small brook. In the medieval period, people often received this name because they lived near a flowing water source or a local landmark defined by a spring. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Kent. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Borne family were settled in this region, which was a hub of agricultural activity and trade during the reign of King James I. Living in Kent placed the family in a strategic area of England, as the county served as a primary gateway for travel and commerce between London and the European continent. This location likely influenced the family's early development as they adapted to the changing social and economic landscape of rural England during the transition into the Stuart era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
born
Old French term for a boundary marker or a limit.
This name
BorneA topographic name for someone who lived near a boundary or a landmark.
also spelled
Born
Bornee
Bourne
Burne
Related arms
Artur de la Mottesimilar arms
Doliwasimilar arms
Bornvariant spelling
Boarnevariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de l'Hérault, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Bouton, André, Le Maine: histoire économique et sociale, 1962
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
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bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
batonAuthority and office held under the crown
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
lionCourage, strength and royalty
