A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Borse family of England.
Reg. 5944 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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. two bars and a canton gu”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Borse Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Borse arms are recorded
The Borse arms were recorded in England, 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 Borse 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 Borse Family in England
The Borse family name has deep roots in the historic city of York, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1620. During the seventeenth century, York was a bustling center of trade and religious activity, and families like the Borses often played a role in the local economy through skilled crafts or small-scale commerce. The name itself likely evolved from older linguistic roots related to the occupation or physical characteristics of early ancestors, reflecting the common way surnames were formed in Northern England. As residents of a prominent walled city, the early Borses would have navigated the social and political shifts of the Stuart era, living through a time when York served as a vital hub for northern administration. By establishing themselves in this region, the family became part of the long and complex history of Yorkshire, contributing to the local community during a period of significant national change.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bursa
Latin term for a leather pouch, purse, or hide.
This name
BorseAn occupational surname for a maker or seller of purses or leather bags.
also spelled
Boors
Bor
Related arms
Boorsvariant spelling
Borvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Baines, Edward, History, Directory and Gazetteer of the County of York, 1822
North Yorkshire County Record Office, Quarter Sessions Records, QSB
York City Archives, Freemen of the City of York, Series Y/FR
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cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
