A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bour family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“d'or; au 2 d'arg. à trois barres d'azur.”
The Bour arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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.
Reigning in France when the Bour arms are first recorded.
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.
The family name Bour has deep roots in the historical landscape of France, particularly within the western region of Bretagne. By the mid-seventeenth century, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in this area, living through a period of significant social and agricultural change. The name itself is thought to be linked to the Old French word "bour," which often referred to a small village or a settlement. This suggests that the earliest ancestors were likely people who lived in or managed a local community. As they settled in Bretagne, the family became part of the local fabric, likely working in trades or farming that defined the economy of the region during the reign of King Louis XIV. Their presence in 1663 marks a time when the French state began to keep more formal records of its citizens, helping to solidify the family’s place in the regional history of northwestern France.
boarA fierce fighter who battles to the endSir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Gu. a boar pass. ar”
The Bour 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.
Reigning in France when the Bour arms are first recorded.
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.
The family name Bour has deep roots tied to the northern regions of England, with documented evidence placing members of the family in the historic city of York as early as 1620. During the seventeenth century, York served as a major center for trade and administration, attracting families who often worked as skilled craftsmen or merchants. The name itself is thought to be topographical in origin, likely referring to someone who lived near a small dwelling or a stream, which were common features in the English landscape at that time. As the family established themselves in the city, they became part of the local social fabric during a period of significant political and religious change in England. By settling in such a prominent urban hub, the early Bour family members were positioned to participate in the growing economic life of the region, leaving a lasting mark on the local records of the era.
A fortified settlement or castle.
