A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bourdier family of France.
Reg. 2698 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
wheelFortune's turning, and the carter's trade
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 roues”
Franche-ComteFranche-Comte, c. 1663
Where the Bourdier Arms Were Recorded
Franche-Comte
Map of France showing where the Bourdier arms are recorded
The Bourdier arms were recorded in Franche-Comte, c. 1663.
Franche-Comte sat between France and the Empire and changed hands more than once. Border families held their land under arms and expected to defend it, so a shield was a practical thing rather than an ornament.
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 Bourdier 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 Franche-Comte.
Origin & History of the Bourdier Family in France
The family name Bourdier originates from the historical region of Franche-Comté, a territory nestled between the Jura Mountains and the Saône River. During the mid-seventeenth century, the name was firmly established in this area, as evidenced by records dating back to 1663. The name itself is derived from the Old French word "borde," which referred to a small farm or a modest dwelling. This suggests that the earliest ancestors of the Bourdier family were likely agricultural workers or small-scale farmers who lived and labored on the land. Over time, as families became more settled and communities grew, this descriptive term evolved into a permanent surname used to identify specific households within the region. By remaining in the Franche-Comté area, these early generations helped shape the local rural identity that defined the province during the transition from the seventeenth century into the modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bord
Old French term referring to a small farm or hut.
This name
BourdierOccupational name for a smallholder or a person who lived on a farm.
also spelled
Bourdyer
Burdier
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Doubs, Série B: Cours et juridictions
Archives départementales de la Haute-Saône, Série E: Familles et seigneuries
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Garnier, Joseph, Chartes de communes et d'affranchissements en Bourgogne et en Franche-Comté, 1867
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
wheelFortune's turning, and the carter's trade
wheelFortune's turning, and the carter's trade
