Map of France showing where the Charania arms are recorded
The Charania arms were recorded in Picardie, c. 1663.
Picardie lay on the northern road into France and saw armies pass through it repeatedly. Its landowners were soldiers as often as farmers, and a soldier needed a shield he could be recognised by.
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 Charania 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 Picardie.
Origin & History of the Charania Family in France
The history of the Charania family name is deeply rooted in the northern French region of Picardie, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1663. During the seventeenth century, Picardie was a vital agricultural and industrial hub that served as a gateway between Paris and the northern territories. Families in this area often derived their surnames from local geographical features, specific occupations, or unique personal traits that distinguished them within their village communities. As the Charania family established their roots in this landscape, they likely participated in the local traditions and labor systems that defined rural life in northern France. Over time, the name became a marker of their specific lineage and regional identity, reflecting the broader social changes occurring across the French countryside during the early modern period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Char
Derived from the Latin carus meaning dear or beloved.
This name
CharaniaA locative or occupational surname likely denoting a person who is cherished or beloved.
also spelled
Charny
Sharny
Charnie
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Somme, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Boulanger, Jean-François, Histoire de la Picardie, 2005
Goubert, Pierre, Beauvais et le Beauvaisis de 1600 à 1730, 1960
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
