A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Colborne family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 7611 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
cross symbolChristian faith and service
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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'arg. au chev. de sa., ch. de trois étoiles du champ et acc. de trois cors-de-chasse du sec.; au chef bastillé de gu., ch. d'une croix militaire d'or attachée à son ruban d'azur, accostée de deux couronnes murales d'or. Cq. timbré d'une couronne murale d'or. C.: une tête de renne d'arg., accornée d'or, adextrée d'une branche de laurier de sin. et senestrée d'une palme du même. T.: à dextre un soldat du 52e régiment anglais; à sen. un Indien du Canada, tenant de sa main dextre un tomahawk et de sa sen. une pique. D.: SPERAT INFESTIS.”
Francec. 1839
Where the Colborne Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Colborne arms are recorded
The Colborne arms were recorded in France, c. 1839.
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.
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 France.
Origin & History of the Colborne Family in France
The origins of the Colborne name in France are deeply connected to the unique cultural landscape of the Brittany region. While the name is often associated with English roots, historical records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in the coastal towns of Bretagne by 1839. During this period, the region was undergoing significant social changes as it transitioned from a traditional agrarian society to one more integrated with the industrializing French state. Families like the Colbornes often lived in areas where maritime trade and local agriculture intersected, allowing them to participate in the vibrant economic life of the Atlantic coast. By settling in Brittany, these early family members integrated into a society known for its strong regional identity and distinct linguistic traditions. Their presence in the local census and parish records from the early nineteenth century serves as a testament to their role in the evolving community life of western France.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ar. on a chev. betw. three buglehorns stringed sa., as many mullets of the first; on a chief”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Colborne Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Colborne arms are recorded
The Colborne 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.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in France when the Colborne arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
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.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Colborne Family in England
The surname Colborne is rooted in the Old English language, likely originating from a combination of words meaning a cool stream or a dark brook. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the historic city of York. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Colborne family were active participants in the social and economic life of this northern English hub. During this period, York was a center for trade and religious administration, and families like the Colbornes often played roles in local guilds or parish governance. As the name spread across England, it evolved through various spellings, reflecting the way local clerks recorded names based on their own phonetic interpretations. This early history suggests that the family was well-integrated into the fabric of English society long before the industrial shifts of later centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Columba
Latin for dove, symbolizing peace and purity.
This name
ColborneDerived from a place name meaning the stream or brook of the dove.
also spelled
Colborn
Colborne-de
Colbarne
Colburn
Related arms
Colbarnevariant spelling
Berkeleyrecorded with Colborne, same area
Parfittrecorded with Colborne, same area
Powellrecorded with Colborne, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Finistère, État civil et recensements de population, 1839
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1839
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
cross symbolChristian faith and service
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
cross symbolChristian faith and service
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
