A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Chatillon family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 5760 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti d'arg. et de gu.; au lion de l'un en l'autre.”
Francec. 1663
Where the Chatillon Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Chatillon arms are recorded
The Chatillon arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Chatillon 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 Chatillon Family in France
The family name Chatillon originates from the French word for a small castle or a fortified settlement. In the early history of France, many families adopted this name because they lived near or served at a local castle. By the time the family was documented in the region of Bretagne in 1663, the name had already been established for centuries across various French provinces. During this era, families in Bretagne often lived in rural parishes where they worked the land or served in local administrative roles. The presence of the Chatillon name in 17th-century records suggests that the family was part of the common social fabric of the province. They likely moved through the region as part of the broader migration of families seeking new opportunities in the western territories of France. This history reflects the way surnames evolved from simple descriptions of a person's home into permanent family identities that were passed down through generations.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“de gu. C.: un croiss. d'or.*”
Switzerlandc. 1745
Where the Chatillon Arms Were Recorded
Bern
Map of Switzerland showing where the Chatillon arms are recorded
The Chatillon arms were recorded in Switzerland, c. 1745.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bern.
Bern was the largest of the Swiss cantons and ran itself, with its own council and its own courts. Its governing families held office for generations, and office of that kind carried a shield with it.
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 Switzerland in this period.
How Arms Worked in Switzerland
In Switzerland, coats of arms were not restricted to the nobility and were often adopted by common citizens and families. These symbols were passed down through generations to show family identity. When branches of a family grew, they often changed small details of the design to distinguish their own line from the original group.
Granting authority
Cantonal and civic authorities managed the use of coats of arms within their specific regions and local jurisdictions.
How they got arms
Families typically assumed their own coats of arms based on local custom rather than receiving them from a central monarch.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in various cantonal and civic registers starting from the fourteenth century throughout the Swiss region.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Switzerland.
Origin & History of the Chatillon Family in Switzerland
The name Chatillon originates from the French word for a small castle, suggesting that the family’s earliest ancestors likely lived near or served at a fortified site. While the name has deep roots in French-speaking regions, its presence in Switzerland became well-established by the mid-eighteenth century. By 1745, members of the Chatillon family were documented as residents of Bern, a city that served as a major political and economic hub in the Swiss Confederation. During this era, families moving into Bern often integrated into the local craft guilds or administrative sectors, contributing to the city's growth as a center of trade and governance. The transition of the name into the Swiss landscape reflects the broader movement of families across European borders, where they adapted to new social structures while maintaining their ancestral identity.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
castellum
A Latin term referring to a small fort or castle.
This name
ChatillonDerived from a place name indicating someone who lived near or at a castle.
also spelled
Chattillon
Shatiyon
Shatillon
Related arms
Cocq (de) van Haeftensimilar arms
de Voochtsimilar arms
Dongeysimilar arms
Chattillonvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Morice, Hyacinthe, Mémoires pour servir de preuves à l'histoire ecclésiastique et civile de Bretagne, 1742
Archives Départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, Series E
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
