A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bourdain family of France.
Reg. 2111 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à trois têtes de daim d'or.”
PicardiePicardie, c. 1663
Where the Bourdain Arms Were Recorded
Picardie
Map of France showing where the Bourdain arms are recorded
The Bourdain arms were recorded in Picardie, c. 1663.
Picardie lay on the northern road into France and saw armies pass through it repeatedly. Its landowners were soldiers as often as farmers, and a soldier needed a shield he could be recognised by.
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 Bourdain 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 Picardie.
Origin & History of the Bourdain Family in France
The family name Bourdain originates from the northern region of France known as Picardie. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in this area. The name itself is likely linked to the old French word bourde, which historically referred to a small settlement or a specific type of land plot. Families during this period often took their names from the geography of their home or the nature of their work on the land. Living in Picardie meant the family was part of a region known for its rich agricultural history and its strategic position near the border. Over generations, the Bourdain family became part of the local social fabric, contributing to the development of their rural communities long before the name spread to other parts of the world.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bord
Old French term for a small farm or hut.
This name
BourdainA habitational name for someone who lived on a small farm or cottage.
also spelled
Bourdayn
Burden
Burdain
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France. 1951
Archives départementales de la Somme. Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil. 1663
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
