A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Campion family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 0102 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
palm treeVictory, and righteousness that flourishes
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 château flanqué de deux tours de gu., aj. de sa., le château ouv. du champ et chaque tour ouv. de sin.; le tout soutenu d'une terrasse du même; à un palmier arr. de sin., passé par la porte du château, s'élevant derrière l'édifice, les racines br. sur la terrasse. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1º une aigle cont. de sa., bq., m. et cour. d'or; 2º quatre pl. d'aut.: de gu., de sin., de gu. et d'azur. L. d'azur et de gu.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Campion Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Campion arms are recorded
The Campion 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 Campion 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 Campion Family in France
The family name Campion has deep roots in the French region of Bretagne, where members of the lineage were firmly established by the early eighteenth century. The name itself is derived from the Old French word *camp*, which refers to an open field or a stretch of land. Historically, this suggests that the earliest ancestors were likely farmers or laborers who lived and worked on the fertile plains of the French countryside. By 1725, records indicate that the family had integrated into the local social fabric of the Breton provinces, living as part of the rural community during a time of significant agricultural development. Because the name is tied to the land, it reflects a long tradition of families who were deeply connected to the geography and the changing seasons of their home region. This heritage highlights a history built upon hard work and a lasting presence within the villages of western France.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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 chev. betw. three talbots' heads erased sa”
EssexWitham · Essex, c. 1620
Where the Campion Arms Were Recorded
Essex
Map of England showing where the Campion arms are recorded
The Campion arms were recorded in Essex, c. 1620.
Essex lay close enough to London for City money to buy land there. Merchants who prospered moved out to estates within a day's ride, and a new landowner almost always wanted arms to go with the ground.
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 Campion 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 Essex.
Origin & History of the Campion Family in England
The surname Campion has deep roots in England, where it originated as a descriptive name for a champion or a skilled fighter in tournaments. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Essex. Records from 1620 show members of the family living in this region, where they were often involved in local agriculture and community governance. During this period, Essex was a hub of social and economic change, and families like the Campions were typical of the rising middle class who helped shape the local landscape. They were often recorded in parish registers and tax documents, which provide a clear picture of their integration into the daily life of English village society long before many families began to migrate across the Atlantic.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
campus
A Latin term referring to an open field or level ground.
This name
CampionA topographic name for someone who lived near or worked on a field.
also spelled
Campyion
Kampion
Campione
Campyon
Campian
Related arms
Compionvariant spelling
Barwellrecorded with Campion, same area
Gumars, or Gunasrecorded with Campion, same area
Luardrecorded with Campion, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Poterie, Hervé, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1975
Archives Départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, Series E
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
palm treeVictory, and righteousness that flourishes
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
palm treeVictory, and righteousness that flourishes
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
