A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Chabre family of France.
Reg. 5421 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
vairProtection, and the winter fur
goats headWisdom, and one who wins by policy rather than force
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
VairMeans: Protection
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'azur au chev. d'or, acc. de trois têtes de chèvre coupées du même; aux 2 et 3 d'azur à la croix alésée d'arg., à la bord. de vair.”
AuvergneAuvergne, c. 1643
Where the Chabre Arms Were Recorded
Auvergne
Map of France showing where the Chabre arms are recorded
The Chabre arms were recorded in Auvergne, c. 1643.
Auvergne was mountain country in the middle of France, poor in money but thick with old families. Estates were small and held for a very long time, and long tenure counted for more than wealth when it came to 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.
The body that granted and recorded arms in France in this period.
Louis XIII of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIII of France
1617–1643
Reigning in France when the Chabre 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 Auvergne.
Origin & History of the Chabre Family in France
The family name Chabre finds its roots in the rugged landscape of the Auvergne region in central France. By the mid-seventeenth century, the family was well-established in this area, as evidenced by records dating back to 1643. The name itself is likely derived from the Occitan word "chabra," which refers to a goat. In medieval times, it was common for families to adopt surnames based on local geography, livestock, or the specific traits of the land they farmed. Living in the mountainous terrain of Auvergne, the early members of the Chabre family were likely involved in agriculture or pastoral life, navigating the high plateaus and volcanic hills that define the region. Over generations, the family became deeply woven into the local social fabric, maintaining their presence in these rural communities long after the first official mentions of their name appeared in parish registers.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Capra
Latin term referring to a female goat.
This name
ChabreA topographic name for someone who lived near a rocky place or goat pasture.
also spelled
Shabr
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Albert Dauzat, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Archives départementales du Puy-de-Dôme, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, Series E
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
goats headWisdom, and one who wins by policy rather than force
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
goats headWisdom, and one who wins by policy rather than force
