Map of France showing where the Chaffee arms are recorded
The Chaffee arms were recorded in Savoy, c. 1663.
Savoy was Alpine country ruled by its own house for eight hundred years. Families there held land and served in arms, and both service and landholding brought recorded shields with them.
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 Chaffee 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 Savoy.
Origin & History of the Chaffee Family in France
The history of the Chaffee family name is deeply rooted in the rugged landscape of the Savoy region, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1663. During this period, the name was closely tied to the alpine environment of the Duchy of Savoy, a territory that sat at a strategic crossroads between France and Italy. Families in this area often took their names from specific geographic markers or the unique trades they practiced within their mountain communities. As the region experienced shifting political borders and economic changes, members of the family began to migrate, eventually carrying their name across Europe and toward the Atlantic. This early history reflects the resilience of families who lived in high-altitude settlements, where survival depended on strong community bonds and a deep knowledge of the land.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
chaff
husks of corn or other seed separated by threshing or winnowing
This name
Chaffeean occupational name for a dealer in chaff or a thresher of grain
also spelled
Kaffe
Kafe
Caffay
Coffee
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Savoie, État civil de la commune de Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, 1663
Bouchage, Honoré, Histoire de la Savoie, 1888
Chaffee, William H., The Chaffee Genealogy, 1909
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
savages head affrontyAn enemy overcome
swordJustice, and military honour
cross symbolChristian faith and service
savages head affrontyAn enemy overcome
swordJustice, and military honour
