A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Chandos family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 1877 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à une pile de gu. C.: une tête de vieillard de carn., posée de profil, cour. de feuillage.”
Francec. 1428
Where the Chandos Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Chandos arms are recorded
The Chandos arms were recorded in France, c. 1428.
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.
Charles VII of France
Sovereign of the period
Charles VII of France
1422–1461
Reigning in France when the Chandos 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 France.
Origin & History of the Chandos Family in France
The history of the Chandos family in France is deeply rooted in the complex political landscape of the fifteenth century. While the name is often associated with English nobility, historical records confirm that family members were active in the region of Bretagne by 1428. During this period, the Duchy of Bretagne served as a strategic territory caught between the competing interests of France and England. The presence of the family in this area suggests they were likely involved in the administrative or military affairs that defined the late Middle Ages. By settling in Bretagne, these individuals navigated a society that valued local loyalty and regional autonomy. Their activities during this time reflect the broader movement of families who crossed borders to secure land, influence, and political standing in a changing Europe.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Colours
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)
“Gu. a puise fitchée ar”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Chandos Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Chandos arms are recorded
The Chandos arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried 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.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in France when the Chandos 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 England.
Origin & History of the Chandos Family in England
The family name Chandos carries a deep connection to the history of England, rooted in the transition from medieval landholding patterns to the social shifts of the seventeenth century. While the name is famously associated with high-ranking nobility in the Middle Ages, the branch of the family documented in York by 1620 reflects the movement of people into growing urban centers during the Stuart period. By the early seventeenth century, families like the Chandos line were often involved in the trade and civic life of northern English cities, moving away from rural feudal roles toward the professional classes. This era was a time of significant change, as families began to establish more permanent roots in city parishes and local government records. The presence of the name in York suggests that these individuals were part of the expanding middle class that helped shape the economic and social landscape of northern England before the outbreak of the English Civil War.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
candere
Latin verb meaning to shine, glow, or be white.
This name
ChandosDerived from a place name referring to a white or shining rocky area.
also spelled
Chando
Chandoss
Chandose
Shando
Chandoys
Related arms
Chandoys, or Chandozvariant spelling
Chandozvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de Loire-Atlantique, Fonds de la famille de Chandos, série E
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
Potier de Courcy, Pol, Nobiliaire et armorial de Bretagne, 1890
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pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
