A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Chaban family of France.
Reg. 0523 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
Colours
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'azur à une aigle volante vers un soleil, le tout d'or.”
Francec. 1663
Where the Chaban Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Chaban arms are recorded
The Chaban arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Chaban 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 Chaban Family in France
The family name Chaban carries a rich history that is deeply rooted in the cultural landscape of western France. Records confirm that members of the family were established in the region of Bretagne by 1663, a time when the area was a hub of maritime trade and rural agricultural development. The name itself is thought to derive from the Occitan word chaban, which historically referred to a shepherd’s hut or a small rustic shelter. This suggests that the earliest ancestors of the family were likely people who lived close to the land, working as farmers or livestock herders in the rugged terrain of the countryside. Over the generations, the family moved from these humble beginnings into the broader social fabric of the province, eventually becoming part of the local communities that defined the history of the Breton people.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
cabann
A small hut or cabin constructed of wood or branches.
This name
ChabanA topographic name for someone who lived in a small hut or cabin.
also spelled
Chaban-Fosse
Shaban de la Fos
Chaban
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
