A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Borrett family of England.
Reg. 3170 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
ermineDignity and rank
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
Colours
Counter-ermine (Ermines)Means: 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)
“Ermines three boars' heads erect and erased or”
EnglandInner Temple, c. 1620
Where the Borrett Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Borrett arms are recorded
The Borrett arms were recorded in Inner Temple, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them 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.
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 Borrett 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 England.
Origin & History of the Borrett Family in England
The surname Borrett is believed to have originated in England as a descriptive name or a variation of older personal names. Historical records confirm that members of the Borrett family were well-established in the city of York by 1620. During this period, York was a significant center for trade and religious life, and families living there often played active roles in the local guilds or parish communities. The name likely evolved from regional dialects, reflecting the way people identified one another in small, tightly knit neighborhoods. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of Northern England, contributing to the local economy and the historical development of the region throughout the seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Boro
Old English term for a fortified place or hill fort.
This name
BorrettDerived from a topographic descriptor for someone who lived near a fortified settlement or hill.
also spelled
Boritt
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
ermineDignity and rank
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
ermineDignity and rank
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
