Map of France showing where the Burson arms are recorded
The Burson arms were recorded in Dauphine, c. 1663.
Dauphine lay in the mountains of south-eastern France, a country of small estates and scattered valleys. Its gentry were many and mostly modest, and even a small landholding was enough to justify 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 France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Burson 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 Dauphine.
Origin & History of the Burson Family in France
The family name Burson traces its roots back to the historical province of Dauphiné in southeastern France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well-established within this mountainous region near the Alps. The name likely originated as a descriptive term or a nickname based on local dialects spoken in the rural communities of that era. Families in this part of France often lived in small, tight-knit agricultural villages where they worked the land and participated in local trade. As the seventeenth century progressed, the Burson family became part of the social fabric of Dauphiné, contributing to the local economy and community life long before many members eventually migrated to other parts of the world.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bourse
A leather bag or purse used for carrying money.
This name
BursonAn occupational name for a maker of purses or a treasurer.
also spelled
Bursine
Bursyn
Bourcin
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de l'Isère, Registres paroissiaux de l'ancien diocèse de Grenoble, 1663
Borel d'Hauterive, André, Annuaire de la noblesse de France et des maisons souveraines de l'Europe, 1855
Chorier, Nicolas, Histoire générale de Dauphiné, 1661
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
