A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Durban family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 4507 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'azur à trois fasces d'or (Durban ancien); aux 2 et 3 d'or à un mont d'azur, acc. en chef d'un aquilon de sa., mouv. du canton sen. et soufflant sur un arbre de sin., posé au canton dextre du chef (Durban moderne).”
LanguedocLanguedoc, c. 1663
Where the Durban Arms Were Recorded
Languedoc
Map of France showing where the Durban arms are recorded
The Durban arms were recorded in Languedoc, c. 1663.
Languedoc stretched across the south of France, a country of small towns, vineyards and old local families. Its gentry were numerous rather than grand, and a great many of them held arms even where their estates were modest.
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 Durban 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 Languedoc.
Origin & History of the Durban Family in France
The family name Durban traces its roots to the historic Languedoc region of southern France, where the family was firmly established by the year 1663. During this period, the name was closely tied to the rugged landscape of the Corbières mountains, where a prominent village also bears the title Durban-Corbières. Families in this area often took their surnames from the specific lands they cultivated or the local geography they inhabited. By the mid-seventeenth century, the Durban family was part of a society deeply influenced by the religious and political shifts of the French monarchy. As residents of Languedoc, they lived in a region known for its unique cultural identity and its long history of resistance to central authority. The name likely served as a marker of local heritage, connecting the family to the rural traditions and the distinct social structures that defined life in the south of France during the reign of Louis XIV.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Az. on a chief ar. a demi lion ramp. gu”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Durban Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Durban arms are recorded
The Durban 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 Durban 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 Durban Family in England
The family name Durban traces its roots in England to the northern city of York, where records confirm members of the family were living by the year 1620. During this period, York served as a vital hub for trade and administration, placing the family in a region defined by its deep medieval history and its importance to the English Crown. The name itself is often linked to the Old English word for a valley or a dwelling near a stream, suggesting that the earliest ancestors may have been identified by the specific landscape where they built their homes. As the family established themselves in the city, they likely participated in the local guilds or the merchant classes that defined York’s economy during the seventeenth century. By remaining in such a prominent urban center, the early Durbans were part of a stable community that navigated the significant social and political changes occurring across England at the time.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
d'Urban
Derived from the Latin urbanus meaning of or belonging to the city.
This name
DurbanA topographic surname indicating someone who lived in or originated from a town or city.
also spelled
Durbann
Durben
Durbon
Durbanne
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Albert Dauzat, Les noms de famille de France, 1949
Marie-Thérèse Morlet, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Archives départementales de l'Aude, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
