Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“De gu. au lion d'or; le champ chapé-ployé d'or, à deux croiss. affr. d'azur.”
A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Campos family of France.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“De gu. au lion d'or; le champ chapé-ployé d'or, à deux croiss. affr. d'azur.”

The Campos 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.
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.
The surname Campos originates from the Latin word campus, which translates to field or open plain. Historically, this name was often given to families who lived near a prominent field or worked as farmers in rural areas. While the name is most commonly associated with the Iberian Peninsula, records confirm that members of the family were established in the Brittany region of France by 1725. During this period, families often moved across borders due to trade routes, military service, or shifting agricultural opportunities. The presence of the Campos name in Brittany suggests that these ancestors were part of a mobile population that integrated into local communities while maintaining their distinct family identity. Over time, the name became a permanent fixture in the region, reflecting the family's transition from their original roots to their new life in western France.
Latin term referring to an open field or level ground.