A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Charbonnier family of France.
Reg. 1648 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De sa. au saut. d'or, cant. de quatre étoiles d'arg.”
LyonnaisLyonnais, c. 1663
Where the Charbonnier Arms Were Recorded
Lyonnais
Map of France showing where the Charbonnier arms are recorded
The Charbonnier 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 Charbonnier 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 Charbonnier Family in France
The surname Charbonnier is a classic example of a name derived from an ancient trade. In French, the word refers to a charcoal burner, which was a vital profession in the forested regions of France during the Middle Ages and the early modern period. These workers lived in the woods to convert timber into charcoal, a fuel that was essential for blacksmiths and glassmakers. By the time the family was documented in the Lyonnais region in 1663, the name had likely been passed down through several generations of laborers. Families in this area often settled near the dense forests of the Massif Central, where the demand for their product remained high for centuries. This connection to the land and the charcoal trade defined the social standing and daily life of the early Charbonniers as they established their roots in the heart of France.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Charbon
A black carbonaceous substance used as fuel.
This name
CharbonnierAn occupational surname for a charcoal burner or a coal merchant.
also spelled
Charbonier
Sharbonyay
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
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Archives départementales du Rhône, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil de la commune de Lyon, 1663
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
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
