A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the des Bordes family of France.
Reg. 3128 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à un pal de fusées de gu. C.: une tête de dragon de gu., entre deux ailes d'or.”
LorraineLorraine, c. 1454
Where the des Bordes Arms Were Recorded
Lorraine
Map of France showing where the des Bordes arms are recorded
The des Bordes arms were recorded in Lorraine, c. 1454.
Lorraine sat on the border between France and the German lands, and border country bred soldiers. Families here held small estates and served in arms, and a fighting man was exactly the sort who carried a shield of his own.
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.
Charles VII of France
Sovereign of the period
Charles VII of France
1422–1461
Reigning in France when the des Bordes 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 Lorraine.
Origin & History of the des Bordes Family in France
The surname des Bordes originates from the French word "bordes," which historically referred to small farms or modest cottages located on the outskirts of a village. During the medieval period, families often took their names from the specific land they worked or the type of dwelling they occupied. By 1454, records confirm that members of the des Bordes family were well-established in the Lorraine region of France. This area was a significant crossroads for trade and culture, placing the family in a dynamic part of Europe during the late Middle Ages. As the family grew, they became deeply rooted in the local social structure of Lorraine, transitioning from simple landholders to figures involved in the regional administration and community life of the fifteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bord
A Germanic or Old French term referring to a small farm or hut.
This name
des BordesRefers to someone who lived near or worked on a small farm or cottage.
also spelled
Borde
Bordes
Bord
Debord
Related arms
Bordevariant spelling
Bordesvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Lepage, Henri, Les communes de la Meurthe, 1853
Archives départementales de Meurthe-et-Moselle, Série B: Cours et juridictions
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
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
