A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Colbourne family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 5757 · 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
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Map of France showing where the Colbourne arms are recorded
The Colbourne 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 Colbourne Family in France
The roots of the Colbourne name in France are deeply connected to the rugged landscape and distinct cultural identity of the Bretagne region. While the name is often associated with later migration patterns, historical records confirm the presence of the family in this area by 1839. During this period, families in Bretagne were often deeply tied to the local agricultural economy and the unique traditions of the Breton people. The name likely evolved from local geographic markers or occupational descriptions common to the coastal and rural communities of northwestern France. As the family established their lives in the region, they became part of the social fabric of a province known for its strong sense of independence and maritime history. By settling in Bretagne, the early members of the family integrated into a society that valued community ties and local heritage, leaving a lasting mark on the regional records of the nineteenth century.
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
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Map of England showing where the Colbourne arms are recorded
The Colbourne 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 Colbourne 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 Colbourne Family in England
The surname Colbourne is rooted in the landscape of medieval England, originating as a locative name that identified people by the places where they lived. It is derived from the Old English words for a cold stream or brook, suggesting that the earliest families bearing this name settled near a specific water source that remained chilly throughout the year. By the early 17th century, the name was firmly established in northern England, with records confirming that members of the Colbourne family were living in the historic city of York by 1620. During this period, families in York were often deeply connected to the local trade guilds and the religious life of the city, which served as a major hub for commerce and governance. As these individuals moved through the narrow streets and bustling markets of York, they carried a name that linked their identity directly to the natural features of the English countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Col-burn
Derived from Old English elements meaning cool stream or cold brook.
This name
ColbourneRefers to a person who lived near a cold or refreshing stream.
also spelled
Colborn
Colborne-de
Colbarne
Colburn
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Morbihan, État civil, 1839
Archives départementales du Finistère, Recensement de la population, 1839
Le Goff, Hervé. Histoire de la Bretagne et des Bretons. 2005
Tanguy, Bernard. Dictionnaire des noms de communes, trèves et paroisses du Finistère. 1990
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
