A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Athon family of France.
Reg. 0666 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'arg. à cinq fleurs-de-lis d'azur; au canton de gu., ch. d'un croiss. d'or.”
PoitouPoitou, c. 1663
Where the Athon Arms Were Recorded
Poitou
Map of France showing where the Athon arms are recorded
The Athon arms were recorded in Poitou, c. 1663.
Poitou was western French farming country, divided among a large number of small landed families. Its gentry were numerous and modest, and even a small estate was enough to justify a shield.
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 Athon 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 Poitou.
Origin & History of the Athon Family in France
The family name Athon traces its historical roots to the region of Poitou in western France, where records confirm the family was established by at least 1663. During the seventeenth century, Poitou was a vibrant area defined by its agricultural landscape and its proximity to the Atlantic coast. Families in this region often lived in small rural parishes, where they were deeply connected to the local land and the traditions of the French countryside. The name itself likely evolved from older linguistic roots common to the Poitevin dialect, reflecting the unique cultural identity of the people living in this part of France during the early modern period. As members of this family navigated life in the mid-1600s, they were part of a society transitioning through significant social and religious changes that shaped the future of the French provinces.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Antonius
A Roman family name of uncertain Etruscan origin.
This name
AthonA French variant derived from the Latin name meaning highly praiseworthy or priceless.
also spelled
Aton
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Vienne, Série E, État civil et registres paroissiaux
Beauchet-Filleau, Henri, Dictionnaire historique et généalogique des familles du Poitou, 1891
Lebeuf, Jean, Histoire de la ville et de tout le diocèse de Paris, 1754
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
