A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Chappe family of France.
Reg. 0217 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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'azur à la bande comp. d'or et de gu. de cinq pièces; à une aigle d'arg., br. sur le tout.”
LorraineLorraine, c. 1523
Where the Chappe Arms Were Recorded
Lorraine
Map of France showing where the Chappe arms are recorded
The Chappe arms were recorded in Lorraine, c. 1523.
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.
Francis I of France
Sovereign of the period
Francis I of France
1515–1547
Reigning in France when the Chappe 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 Chappe Family in France
The Chappe family name traces its roots to the historic region of Lorraine, where members were firmly established by the year 1523. The name is believed to originate from the Old French word "chape," which referred to a type of hooded cloak or cape worn during the Middle Ages. It is likely that the name began as a descriptive nickname for a person who frequently wore this specific garment or perhaps for a professional cloak maker. As the family grew, they became integrated into the social and administrative fabric of eastern France. By living in Lorraine, a region often caught between shifting borders and cultural influences, the early Chappe family members navigated a complex landscape that shaped their development over several centuries. Their presence in local records from the early sixteenth century highlights a long-standing history of residency in this distinctive European territory.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cappa
A Latin term referring to a hooded cloak or cape.
This name
ChappeAn occupational name for a maker or seller of hooded cloaks.
also spelled
Chape
Shapay
Related arms
Chapevariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France. 1951
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
