A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Chaize family of France.
Reg. 7215 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“D'azur à la bande échiq. d'or et de gu., acc. chef d'une tête de lion d'or et en p. d'un croiss. d'arg.”
LyonnaisLyonnais, c. 1663
Where the Chaize Arms Were Recorded
Lyonnais
Map of France showing where the Chaize arms are recorded
The Chaize arms were recorded in Lyonnais, c. 1663.
Lyonnais centred on Lyon, one of the great banking and silk towns of France. Money made in the city bought estates in the countryside around it, and those estates brought arms 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 Chaize 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 Lyonnais.
Origin & History of the Chaize Family in France
The surname Chaize finds its historical roots in the Lyonnais region of France, where the family was firmly established by the mid-seventeenth century. The name is likely topographic in origin, derived from the Old French word "chaise" or "cheze," which referred to a small dwelling, a farmstead, or a plot of land attached to a house. During the 1600s, families in this area were often identified by the specific location of their homesteads or the nature of their agricultural work. By 1663, records confirm that members of the Chaize family were active participants in the local community of the Lyonnais, living within a landscape defined by rolling hills and traditional viticulture. This early presence suggests that the family was deeply connected to the rural economy and the social structure of the French countryside during the reign of King Louis XIV.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
chase
Derived from the Old French word chace meaning a hunting ground.
This name
ChaizeA topographic name for someone who lived near a hunting area or forest.
also spelled
Chaise
Shayz
Chase
Related arms
Chaisevariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives Départementales du Rhône, Registres paroissiaux de la province du Lyonnais, 1663
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
