A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Charrier family of France.
Reg. 7144 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
ermineDignity and rank
lionCourage, strength and royalty
bridgeOne who joins what was divided
wheelFortune's turning, and the carter's trade
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'or au lion de sa.; au chef de gu. (Boyer); aux 2 et 3 d'arg. à un pont de trois arches de gu., maçonné de sa., acc. de six mouch. d'herm. de sa., 3 en chef et 3 entre les arches (Minard). Sur le tout d'azur à une roue d'or (Charrier). D.: SEMPER IN ORBITA.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Charrier Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Charrier arms are recorded
The Charrier arms were recorded in France, c. 1725.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Charrier 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 Charrier Family in France
The surname Charrier is a classic occupational name that originated in medieval France. It is derived from the Old French word charrier, which referred to a person who operated a cart or worked as a professional carter. During the eighteenth century, the name was well established in the Bretagne region, where families often lived in rural communities centered around agriculture and local trade. By 1725, members of the Charrier family were active participants in the social and economic life of their parishes in western France. Because transport was essential for moving grain and timber to market, those who held the name often played a vital role in the daily infrastructure of their villages. These early ancestors were typically hardworking laborers or merchants who helped connect isolated towns through the constant movement of goods across the landscape.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
carrus
A Latin term referring to a four-wheeled wagon or cart.
This name
CharrierAn occupational surname for a carter, wagoner, or someone who transported goods.
also spelled
Charriar
Sharyay
Charriere
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France. 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille. 1991
Archives Départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine. Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil. 1725
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
ermineDignity and rank
lionCourage, strength and royalty
bridgeOne who joins what was divided
wheelFortune's turning, and the carter's trade
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
ermineDignity and rank
lionCourage, strength and royalty
bridgeOne who joins what was divided
wheelFortune's turning, and the carter's trade
