A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Holborn family of England.
Reg. 5795 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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. a fesse betw. three crescents gu”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Holborn Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Holborn arms are recorded
The Holborn 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 England when the Holborn 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 Holborn Family in England
The surname Holborn is a locative name, meaning it originally identified people by the place where they lived. The name is derived from the Old English words "hol," meaning hollow or deep, and "burna," which refers to a stream or brook. This suggests that the earliest ancestors of the family likely settled near a stream located in a deep valley or a sunken channel. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Holborn family were well-established in the historic city of York. During this period, families in York were often involved in the city’s thriving trade guilds and local governance, reflecting the growth of the region as a northern center of commerce. As the family moved and settled in different areas, the name remained a link to their original geographic roots, preserving a connection to the landscape that defined their early history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hole-burna
Old English for a hollow or valley stream.
This name
HolbornRefers to a person who lived near a stream located in a hollow or ravine.
also spelled
Holborn
Holburne
Holborne
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
