A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bourg family of France.
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 Bourg 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 Bourg 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 Bourg originates from the French word for a market town or a fortified settlement. During the medieval period, the name was often used to identify individuals who lived in or near these central hubs of trade and community life. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the Bourg family were well-established in the region of Bretagne. At this time, the family was deeply rooted in the local social structure of northwestern France, where they likely participated in the agricultural and maritime activities common to the area. As the family grew, they became part of the regional history that shaped the distinct culture of the Breton people. Their presence in Bretagne reflects a long tradition of settling in areas that served as vital centers for commerce and regional governance.
A Latin term referring to a fortified place or small castle.
