A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Champagne family of France.
lionCourage, strength and royaltyJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'or au lion de gu.”
The Champagne 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.
Reigning in France when the Champagne 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 family name Champagne originated as a locative surname, which means it was used to identify people based on the region they came from. In France, the name refers to the historic Champagne province, a region famous for its rolling plains and fertile land. During the seventeenth century, many families moved from their ancestral homes to seek new opportunities in different parts of the country. Records confirm that members of the Champagne family were established in the Bretagne region by 1663. At this time, families often adopted these regional names to distinguish themselves from others in their new communities. This practice helped preserve a connection to their geographic roots even as they settled into the distinct culture and traditions of western France.
Latin term for open, flat, or level countryside.
