A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Borrow family of England.
Reg. 2922 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Ar. on a mount in base the trunk of an oak tree, sprouting out two branches ppr., with the shield of Pallas hanging thereon or, fastened by a belt gu”
DerbyshireDerbyshire, c. 1702
Where the Borrow Arms Were Recorded
Derbyshire
Map of England showing where the Borrow arms are recorded
The Borrow arms were recorded in Derbyshire, c. 1702.
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.
William III of England
Sovereign of the period
William III of England
1694–1702
Reigning in England when the Borrow 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 Derbyshire.
Origin & History of the Borrow Family in England
The surname Borrow is a topographical name that likely originated from people who lived near a specific landmark, such as a hill, a fortification, or a burial mound. In Old English, the word *beorg* referred to a hill or a mound, and it eventually evolved into terms like borough or burrow to describe these elevated places. By the early 18th century, the family was well-established in the county of Derbyshire, where records confirm their presence by 1702. During this period, families with this name were often integrated into the local community as landowners or tradespeople. Because the name is rooted in the physical landscape of the English countryside, it suggests that the earliest ancestors were deeply connected to the geography of the regions where they settled.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
burg
A fortified place, castle, or town.
This name
BorrowA person who lived near or worked at a fortified settlement or castle.
also spelled
Borowe
Borough
Related arms
Boroughvariant spelling
Borowevariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Derbyshire Record Office, Quarter Sessions Records, 1702
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
