A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Chaucer family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 7126 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
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.; à la bande de l'un en l'autre. C.: une tortue pass., au nat. [Armes du poète anglais, Geoffrey Chaucer.]”
Francec. 1725
Where the Chaucer Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Chaucer arms are recorded
The Chaucer 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 Chaucer 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 Chaucer Family in France
The family name Chaucer finds its linguistic roots in the Old French word *chaucier*, which referred to a maker of footwear or hose. While the name is famously associated with the English poet Geoffrey Chaucer, historical records confirm that members of the family also maintained a presence in the Brittany region of France as late as 1725. During this period, the name functioned as an occupational descriptor, linking the family to the skilled trade of shoemaking within the local economy. These families often lived in urban centers where leatherworking was a vital part of daily commerce. By tracing the name through these French records, we see how a common trade name evolved into a stable family identity that persisted across generations and borders. This connection highlights the way surnames often began as simple descriptions of a person's craft before becoming permanent markers of lineage.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Ar. on a chief gu. a lion ramp. of the field”
SuffolkSuffolk, c. 1620
Where the Chaucer Arms Were Recorded
Suffolk
Map of England showing where the Chaucer arms are recorded
The Chaucer arms were recorded in Suffolk, c. 1620.
Suffolk was wool country, and its cloth towns were among the wealthiest in England. Clothier families bought manors with their profits, and holding a manor was the ordinary route to a coat of 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 Chaucer 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 Suffolk.
Origin & History of the Chaucer Family in England
The name Chaucer is rooted in the occupational history of medieval England, deriving from the Old French word *chaucier*, which refers to a maker of footwear or hose. While the family is most famously associated with the poet Geoffrey Chaucer, who lived in London during the fourteenth century, the name also took root in the rural landscapes of East Anglia. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Chaucer family were well-established in the county of Suffolk. This shift from the urban centers of the south to the agricultural regions of the east reflects the broader movement of families across the English countryside during the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance. These early ancestors were likely tradespeople or landowners who helped shape the local economy of their communities, carrying a name that served as a direct link to the specialized crafts of their medieval predecessors.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
chaussier
A maker or seller of footwear or leggings.
This name
ChaucerAn occupational surname for a person who manufactured or sold hose or stockings.
also spelled
Shoser
Chausser
Related arms
Chawcer, or Chawcersvariant spelling
Chawservariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Crow, Martin M. and Olson, Clair C., Chaucer Life-Records, 1966
Pearsall, Derek, The Life of Geoffrey Chaucer: A Critical Biography, 1992
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1725
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bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
