A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Charbonneau family of France.
Reg. 9706 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
bowReadiness, and the strength held in reserve
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. à une fronde tort. en triple saut. d'or, mise en pal, chargée d'un caillou d'arg., côtoyée de deux autres cailloux du même en p. de l'écu.”
DauphineDauphine, c. 1663
Where the Charbonneau Arms Were Recorded
Dauphine
Map of France showing where the Charbonneau arms are recorded
The Charbonneau arms were recorded in Dauphine, c. 1663.
Dauphine lay in the mountains of south-eastern France, a country of small estates and scattered valleys. Its gentry were many and mostly modest, and even a small landholding was enough to justify 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 France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Charbonneau 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 Dauphine.
Origin & History of the Charbonneau Family in France
The surname Charbonneau traces its roots to the historical province of Dauphiné in southeastern France. The name is derived from the French word charbon, which means coal, suggesting that early ancestors may have worked as charcoal burners or coal merchants. By 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in this mountainous region near the Alps. During this period, many families in Dauphiné lived in small agricultural communities where trade and craftsmanship were essential to daily survival. As the family grew, some members eventually left their ancestral home to seek new opportunities, eventually playing a notable role in the expansion of French influence in North America.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
charbon
A black carbonaceous substance used as fuel.
This name
CharbonneauA topographic name for someone who lived near a charcoal burner or worked as a coal merchant.
also spelled
Charbonnaux
Sharbono
Charbono
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
Jetté, René, Dictionnaire généalogique des familles du Québec, 1983
Archives nationales d'outre-mer, Fonds des greffes du notariat du Québec
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
bowReadiness, and the strength held in reserve
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
bowReadiness, and the strength held in reserve
