A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Durben family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 7315 · 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 Durben Arms Were Recorded
Languedoc
Map of France showing where the Durben arms are recorded
The Durben 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 Durben 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 Durben Family in France
The Durben family name has roots that trace back to the rugged and historic landscape of the Languedoc region in southern France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in this area, which was known for its unique cultural identity and its history of religious and social change. During the seventeenth century, life in Languedoc was defined by the transition from feudal traditions to the centralized power of the French monarchy. Families like the Durbens often lived in small rural communities where they were deeply connected to the land and the local economy. As the region navigated the pressures of the era, the Durben family likely participated in the agricultural and trade networks that sustained the southern provinces. Their presence in the historical record during this time suggests a family that was integrated into the local social fabric, living through a period of significant transformation in French history.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Erminois on a bend gu. three mullets ar”
EnglandBristol, c. 1620
Where the Durben Arms Were Recorded
Bristol
Map of England showing where the Durben arms are recorded
The Durben arms were recorded in Bristol, c. 1620.
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 Durben 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 Durben Family in England
The Durben family name has deep roots in the bustling port city of Bristol, where records confirm members of the family were established by the year 1620. During this period, Bristol served as a vital hub for maritime trade and colonial expansion, suggesting that the early Durbens were likely involved in the merchant classes or the skilled trades that supported the city’s busy harbor. Because Bristol was a gateway to the Atlantic, families living there often had strong connections to the growing overseas networks of the seventeenth century. The name itself reflects the linguistic shifts occurring in England at the time, as families often adapted their surnames to fit the local dialect of their home regions. By settling in a major urban center like Bristol, the Durbens placed themselves at the heart of English economic life, allowing them to participate in the rapid social and commercial changes that defined the early modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dur
Derived from the Latin durus meaning hard or enduring.
This name
DurbenA locative or descriptive surname likely referring to a person of firm or steadfast character.
also spelled
Durbann
Durben
Durbon
Durbanne
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de l'Hérault, Série E (État civil et registres paroissiaux)
Le Roy Ladurie, Emmanuel, Les Paysans de Languedoc, 1966
Wolff, Philippe, Histoire du Languedoc, 1967
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
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
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
