A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Charlemagne family of France.
Reg. 1834 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur au chev., acc. en chef de deux croiss. et en p. d'une molette, le tout d'or.”
NormandieNormandie, c. 1663
Where the Charlemagne Arms Were Recorded
Normandie
Map of France showing where the Charlemagne arms are recorded
The Charlemagne arms were recorded in Normandie, c. 1663.
Normandie held a dense crowd of knightly families on some of the best farmland in France. Its men had fought and settled abroad for generations, and a family that sent sons to war needed a shield they 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 Charlemagne 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 Normandie.
Origin & History of the Charlemagne Family in France
The family name Charlemagne carries a deep connection to the history of northern France. While the name is famously associated with the medieval emperor Charlemagne, the specific lineage of the family appearing in Normandy during the 1663 census likely emerged from local roots in the region. During the seventeenth century, families in Normandy often adopted surnames based on nicknames, occupations, or regional associations to distinguish themselves in growing parish records. The presence of the family in Normandy by 1663 suggests they were established members of the local community during a period of significant social and agricultural development in the province. By this time, the name had transitioned from a royal title into a distinct family identifier used by residents in the French countryside to track their ancestry and legal standing.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Carolus Magnus
Derived from the Germanic word for free man and Latin for great.
This name
CharlemagneRefers to the historical figure Charles the Great, signifying a powerful and noble ruler.
also spelled
Charlemain
Charlemayne
Sharlmany
Related arms
Bouchu de Lessart de Loisysimilar arms
Cortagiersimilar arms
Courtagiersimilar arms
Jeudysimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Seine-Maritime, Recensement de la population de la généralité de Rouen
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Lebel, Paul, Les noms de personnes en France, 1946
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
