A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Champy family of France.
Reg. 8468 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
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Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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'or à trois chev. brisés de sa.; aux 2 et 3 d'or à trois fasces crén. et alésées de sa.”
BretagneBretagne, c. 1663
Where the Champy Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Champy arms are recorded
The Champy arms were recorded in Bretagne, c. 1663.
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.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Champy 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 Bretagne.
Origin & History of the Champy Family in France
The family name Champy finds its historical roots in the rural landscapes of France, with documented evidence placing members of the family in the region of Bretagne by 1663. The name is derived from the Old French word champ, which refers to a field or a piece of open land. This suggests that the earliest ancestors were likely farmers or landowners who lived near a prominent field or a specific agricultural area. During the seventeenth century, families in Bretagne often identified themselves by the geography of their homes or their trade. As the family established itself in the region, they became part of the local social fabric, contributing to the agricultural and community life of their parishes. Over time, the name became a permanent marker of their identity, passed down through generations as they navigated the changing political and social landscape of western France.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Campus
Latin term referring to an open field or level ground.
This name
ChampyA topographic name for someone who lived near or worked on a field.
also spelled
Champie
Champyi
Champyy
Shampi
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d’Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 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.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
