A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Harbord family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 5646 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Ec.: aux I. et IV. de Harbord, qui est c.-éc. d'azur et de gu., à quatre lions d'or; et une couronne royale d'or, br. en coeur sur les écartelures; aux II. et III. de Morden, qui est d'arg. à une fleur-de-lis de gu. C.: un lion d'arg., couché sur un chapeau de tournoi de gu., retr. d'herm. S.: à dextre un lion d'or, coll. d'une couronne d'azur et enchainé du même; à sen. un léopard au nat., la tête posée de front, coll. d'une couronne d'or et enchainé du même. D.: EQUANIMITER.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Harbord Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Harbord arms are recorded
The Harbord arms were recorded in France, c. 1725.
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.
Louis XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Harbord 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 France.
Origin & History of the Harbord Family in France
The history of the Harbord family in France is deeply rooted in the cultural landscape of the Brittany region during the early eighteenth century. By 1725, records confirm that members of the family were well-established within this coastal province, a territory known for its distinct linguistic traditions and strong maritime connections. During this era, families in Brittany often lived in close-knit rural communities where surnames were tied to specific landholdings or local occupations. The Harbords likely navigated the social shifts of the French provinces during the reign of Louis XV, a period marked by agricultural stability and the gradual growth of regional administrative centers. Their presence in Brittany suggests they were part of the local fabric of the region, participating in the daily life and economic activities that defined this unique corner of France before the major political upheavals of the later century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Herebert
Derived from Germanic elements meaning army and bright or famous.
This name
HarbordA locational or occupational surname denoting a bright warrior or one from a harbor.
also spelled
Harbort
Harberd
Harbert
Harbard
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B: Cours et juridictions
Archives départementales du Finistère, Série E: Familles, notaires et corporations
Poterin du Motel, Généalogie de la famille Harbord, 1905
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
