Map of France showing where the Chancey arms are recorded
The Chancey 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 Chancey 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 Chancey Family in France
The family name Chancey traces its roots to the historic province of Lyonnais in east-central France. By 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in this region, which served as a vital crossroads for trade and culture between the Rhone and Saone rivers. The name likely originated as a topographic descriptor, referring to individuals who lived near or worked on lands associated with a specific estate or local administrative center. During the seventeenth century, families in the Lyonnais area were often deeply connected to the local textile industry and the bustling urban life of nearby Lyon. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the French countryside, contributing to the agricultural and mercantile traditions that defined the region before many members eventually moved toward other parts of Europe and the Americas.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Or, three (another, four) chev. engr. gu”
NorthamptonEdgcott · Northampton, c. 1546
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of England showing where the Chancey arms are recorded
The Chancey arms were recorded in Northampton, c. 1546.
Northamptonshire was grazing and hunting country in the middle of England, thick with manor houses. Its families were numerous and long-settled, and a settled landed family almost always ended up with arms.
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 England in this period.
Henry VIII of England
Sovereign of the period
Henry VIII of England
1509–1547
Reigning in France when the Chancey arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Northampton.
Origin & History of the Chancey Family in England
The family name Chancey traces its roots in England to the mid-sixteenth century, with clear records placing members of the family in Northampton by 1546. During this era, the name likely emerged as a descriptive surname, often linked to individuals who lived near or worked within the administrative offices of a church or a legal court. These offices were historically known as a chancery, and the people associated with them frequently adopted the title as a way to identify their trade or location. As the family established itself in Northampton, they became part of the growing class of English citizens who were settling into stable trades and local community roles. This period of history was marked by significant social change, and the Chancey family’s presence in the town suggests they were integrated into the local economy and civic life of the region during the reign of King Henry VIII.
Chancey Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
cancellarius
A Latin term referring to an official or secretary at a barrier.
This name
ChanceyAn occupational surname for someone who served as a chancellor or record keeper.
also spelled
Chancy
Shansay
Chauncey
Related arms
Jocelynrecorded with Chancey, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Rhône, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Béghain, Patrice, Dictionnaire historique de Lyon, 2009
Pelletier, André, Histoire de Lyon des origines à nos jours, 2007
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
