A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Camville family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
lionCourage, strength and royaltyJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“De sin. à trois lions léopardés d'arg., arm. et lamp. de gu.”
The Camville 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.
Reigning in France when the Camville arms are first recorded.
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 name Camville finds its roots in the historical landscape of northern France, where it evolved as a locative surname tied to specific landholdings. By the early 18th century, the family was firmly established in the region of Bretagne, a territory defined by its distinct cultural identity and deep ties to the Atlantic coast. Records from 1725 show that members of the family were active participants in the local social and economic life of this province during the late Ancien Régime. The name likely originated from a combination of Old French terms describing a field or settlement, reflecting the family's long-standing connection to rural land management and agricultural traditions. As the family grew, they integrated into the administrative and parish structures of the Breton countryside, leaving behind a legacy rooted in the day-to-day governance and community development of their home region.
lionCourage, strength and royaltySir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Vert three lions pass. ar. armed and langued gu”
The Camville arms were recorded in England, c. 1295.
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.
Reigning in France when the Camville arms are first recorded.
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.
The family name Camville first emerged in England following the Norman Conquest, as the name is derived from the village of Canville-les-Deux-Églises in Normandy. Early members of the family were typically members of the minor nobility or landholding class who held estates across various English counties. By the late thirteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the north of England. Historical records confirm that members of the Camville family were living in York by 1295, where they likely participated in the local administration or trade networks of that busy city. Over time, the family spread across different regions, leaving behind traces in legal documents and land surveys that highlight their integration into English medieval society.
Latin term referring to an open field or level ground.
