A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Charpentier family lines. Documented in 3 countries.
Reg. 5788 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“D'azur à la bande échiq. d'or et de gu., de trois tires, acc. de deux licornes ramp. d'arg. C.: une licorne ramp. d'arg.”
FranceParis, c. 1663
Where the Charpentier Arms Were Recorded
Paris
Map of France showing where the Charpentier arms are recorded
The Charpentier arms were recorded in Paris, c. 1663.
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 Charpentier 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 France.
Origin & History of the Charpentier Family in France
The surname Charpentier is a classic example of an occupational name, originating from the Old French word *charpentier*, which refers to a carpenter or a worker in wood. During the Middle Ages, as surnames became necessary for tax and census purposes, families were often identified by the trade of their primary breadwinner. By the time records place the family in Paris in 1663, the name was already well-established across various French provinces. In the seventeenth century, Paris was a center of rapid urban growth, and skilled woodworkers were essential for the construction of the city’s expanding infrastructure and ornate furniture. Families carrying this name were often part of the influential guild system, which organized craftsmen and protected their professional standards. This professional background suggests that early members of the family were likely respected, skilled laborers who played a vital role in the physical development of French society.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“D'azur à un cerf d'or, la tête cont., pass. sur une terrasse de sin.; et un ruisseau d'arg., qui découle d'un puits d'or, au-dessous du cerf. Cq. cour. C.: un bras, arm. d'arg., brandissant une épée, entre deux drapeaux, d'azur et de gu. L. d'or et d'azur.”
SaxonySaxony, c. 1765
Where the Charpentier Arms Were Recorded
Saxony
Map of Germany showing where the Charpentier arms are recorded
The Charpentier arms were recorded in Saxony, c. 1765.
Saxony had mines, trade and old landed families all at once. Silver made some fortunes and land held others, and both sorts of family kept arms, which is why Saxon names appear so often in the registers.
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 Germany in this period.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in France when the Charpentier arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
In the Holy Roman Empire, coats of arms were often granted to individuals by the Emperor or his representatives. These arms were then passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants of the original holder. Younger branches of a family usually kept the same shield design without needing to change it, as the arms belonged to the entire lineage.
Granting authority
The Holy Roman Emperor held the sole power to grant new coats of arms throughout his vast imperial territories.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal imperial grant or by proving their noble status to the authorities.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Imperial Chancery registers, which began keeping formal records of such honors during the Middle Ages.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Saxony.
Origin & History of the Charpentier Family in Germany
The surname Charpentier is a French occupational name that translates to carpenter, reflecting the vital role of skilled woodworkers in medieval society. While the name originated in France, branches of the family migrated eastward into German-speaking lands over several centuries. By 1765, records confirm that members of the Charpentier family were established in the region of Saxony. During this period, Saxony was a hub of industrial and cultural growth, and families with technical skills like carpentry were often recruited to support the region's expanding infrastructure and mining operations. As these families settled into their new communities, they adapted to the local culture while maintaining the professional identity tied to their ancestral name. This migration highlights how skilled tradespeople moved across European borders to find new opportunities, eventually integrating their heritage into the social fabric of the German states.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Az. a bend chequy gu. and or, betw. two unicorns pass. ar”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Charpentier Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Charpentier arms are recorded
The Charpentier arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried 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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in France when the Charpentier arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Charpentier Family in England
The surname Charpentier originated in France as an occupational name for a carpenter, but its presence in England tells a story of migration and adaptation. By the year 1620, records indicate that members of the family had established themselves in the historic city of York. During this era, many individuals with French roots moved across the English Channel to escape religious conflict or to seek new economic opportunities in trade and craft. As these families settled into English life, the name often remained unchanged, serving as a direct link to their ancestral profession of woodworking. Living in a major northern hub like York, these early family members likely integrated into the local economy by applying their specialized skills to the city’s growing infrastructure. Over time, the family name became a permanent part of the English landscape, representing a blend of continental heritage and local history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
carpentarius
A Latin term referring to a maker of carriages or wagons.
This name
CharpentierAn occupational surname for a carpenter or woodworker.
also spelled
Charpentiar
Sharpontyay
Carpenter
Charpenter
Charpentir
Related arms
Chassartsame arms
Chossat de Montburonsame arms
Hélissantsimilar arms
Crouyrecorded with Charpentier, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert, Les noms de famille de France, 1945
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Archives Nationales, Minutier central des notaires de Paris, 1663
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bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
