Map of France showing where the Charman arms are recorded
The Charman arms were recorded in Lorraine, c. 1663.
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.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Charman 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 Charman Family in France
The family name Charman likely originated as a descriptive occupational surname in regions where French and Germanic cultures intersected. By 1663, records confirm that members of the family were established in the historical province of Lorraine. During this period, Lorraine served as a vital crossroads for trade and migration between the Holy Roman Empire and the Kingdom of France. The name itself is often linked to the Old French word charpentier or the term charretier, which suggests that early ancestors may have worked as skilled wagon makers, cartwrights, or transporters of goods. Living in a border territory meant that these early family members were part of a resilient population that navigated shifting political boundaries and the challenges of the seventeenth century. Their presence in this region highlights a history rooted in craftsmanship and the movement of people across the heart of Europe.
Charman Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Charme
Derived from the Latin word carmen meaning song or incantation.
This name
CharmanAn occupational name for a person who sang or chanted, often associated with a town crier.
also spelled
Charmann
Sharmon
Charmante
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bastien, Jean-Pierre. Les noms de famille en Lorraine. 1989
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
