A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Champenois family of France.
Reg. 0157 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
labelThe eldest son, during his father's life
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 au chev. d'or coticé de sa., acc. en chef de deux étoiles d'or et en p. d'un lion d'arg. C.: le lion [En 1600 cette fam. prouva sa descendance de l'ancienne maison des barons de Nogent et obtint d'en reprendre le nom et les armes: D'azur semé de croix recr. au pied fiché d'or; au lion du même, lamp. et cour. de gu., br. sur le tout, l'épaule ch. d'un coeur du même; au chef d'herm., ch. d'un lambel de gu.]”
LorraineLorraine, c. 1509
Where the Champenois Arms Were Recorded
Lorraine
Map of France showing where the Champenois arms are recorded
The Champenois arms were recorded in Lorraine, c. 1509.
Lorraine sat on the border between France and the German lands, and border country bred soldiers. Families here held small estates and served in arms, and a fighting man was exactly the sort who carried a shield of his own.
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 XII of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XII of France
1498–1515
Reigning in France when the Champenois 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 Lorraine.
Origin & History of the Champenois Family in France
The family name Champenois is a locative surname, which means it was originally used to identify people based on where they lived or where they came from. In the French language, the name translates to someone from the region of Champagne. By the year 1509, historical records confirm that members of the Champenois family were firmly established in the Lorraine region of northeastern France. During this period, Lorraine was a crossroads of European culture and trade, sitting between the French kingdom and the Holy Roman Empire. Families with this name were likely among the many people who migrated across provincial borders for work or marriage, eventually settling in Lorraine and adopting the name to reflect their ancestral roots in the neighboring Champagne province. Over time, the name became a permanent way to track the family line as they integrated into the local communities and social structures of their new home.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Campania
Latin term for a flat, open countryside or plain.
This name
ChampenoisAn inhabitant or person originating from the Champagne region of France.
also spelled
Champenoy
Champenoi
Champenoisz
Shampenwa
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Albert Dauzat, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Marie-Thérèse Morlet, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Archives départementales de Meurthe-et-Moselle, Série B: Cours et juridictions, 1509
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
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
labelThe eldest son, during his father's life
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
labelThe eldest son, during his father's life
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
lionCourage, strength and royalty
