A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Blachon family of France.
Reg. 6821 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à un dextrochère, arm. d'arg., lisére d'or, tenant trois épées d'or, passées en pal et en saut.”
ForezForez, c. 1663
Where the Blachon Arms Were Recorded
Forez
Map of France showing where the Blachon arms are recorded
The Blachon arms were recorded in Forez, c. 1663.
Forez was a small upland county in central France, thick with minor gentry holding modest estates. Its families were more numerous than wealthy, and even a small holding was enough for a shield of one's own.
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 Blachon 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 Forez.
Origin & History of the Blachon Family in France
The family name Blachon finds its historical roots in the Forez region of France, a historic province known for its rolling hills and strong agricultural traditions. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the Blachon family were well-established residents in this area. The name itself is thought to be a regional variation linked to the Old French word "blanch," which often described someone with fair hair or a pale complexion. During the seventeenth century, families in Forez typically lived in small, tightly knit rural communities where they worked as farmers or skilled tradespeople. Because the region was somewhat isolated by its geography, the Blachon family likely maintained deep local ties for generations, passing down their name through a culture that valued land ownership and parish life. This early presence in Forez suggests that the family was part of the foundational social fabric of the region long before modern records became standardized.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Blanc
Derived from the Germanic word blank meaning white or fair.
This name
BlachonA diminutive form referring to someone with white hair or a fair complexion.
also spelled
Blashon
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Fournier, Gabriel, Les villages et la vie rurale en France au Moyen Âge, 1962
Archives départementales de la Loire, Registres paroissiaux de l'ancien comté de Forez, 1663
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
