Chatard Coat of Arms Record & History

A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Chatard family of France.

Reg. 7146 · French, A–C

Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details

Where the Chatard Arms Were Recorded

Bugey
Map of France showing where the Chatard arms are recorded

The Chatard arms were recorded in Bugey, c. 1725.

Bugey was small Alpine-edge country in eastern France, held in modest estates. Its gentry were numerous rather than wealthy, and even a small holding justified a shield.

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.

Region
Bugey
First recorded
1725

Granting Authority for the Chatard Arms

Arms of Juge d'armes de France
Juge d'armes de France
Authority

Juge d'armes de France

1407-1789

The body that granted and recorded arms in France in this period.

Portrait of Louis XV of France
Louis XV of France
Sovereign of the period

Louis XV of France

1715–1774

Reigning in France when the Chatard 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 Bugey.

Origin & History of the Chatard Family in France

The family name Chatard is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of the Bugey region, a mountainous area in eastern France known for its rugged terrain and distinct cultural identity. By 1725, records confirm that members of the family were well-established residents within this territory, living among the small, close-knit communities that defined the local economy. The name itself is thought to be a variation of terms related to the local geography or traditional occupations of the region, reflecting the way families were often identified by their connection to the land. During the early eighteenth century, the Chatards were likely involved in the agricultural and pastoral activities that sustained the Bugey population, navigating the challenges of life in the foothills of the Jura Mountains. Their presence in the area during this time suggests a long-standing commitment to their home, as families in this region often remained on the same ancestral plots for many generations to ensure their survival and stability.

Related Branches & Arms

Root word
Chat

Derived from the French word for cat or a small feline.

This name
ChatardA locative or descriptive surname likely referring to a person with cat-like traits.
also spelled
Chatart
Chattard
Shatar

Documented Sources

J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87

Archives départementales de l'Ain, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil du Bugey, 1725

Benoit, Pierre, Histoire du Bugey, 1954

Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951

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