A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Chauvet family of France.
savages head affrontyAn enemy overcomeJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'or à trois têtes de More, tort. d'arg.”
The Chauvet arms were recorded in Forez, c. 1663.
Forez was a small upland county in central France, thick with minor gentry holding modest estates. Its families were more numerous than wealthy, and even a small holding was enough for a shield of one's own.
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.
Reigning in France when the Chauvet arms are first recorded.
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.
The family name Chauvet originates from the historical province of Forez in central France, where records confirm the family was well-established by 1663. The name itself is derived from the Old French word "chauve," which translates to "bald." During the Middle Ages, such descriptive nicknames were commonly used to identify individuals based on their physical appearance or personal traits. As these names were passed down through generations, they eventually became permanent family surnames. By the mid-17th century, the Chauvet family in Forez was deeply integrated into the local community, likely participating in the agricultural and craft-based economy typical of that region. Their presence in the area during this period highlights a long-standing history of rural life and regional stability that defined many families in pre-revolutionary France.
Latin term meaning bald or hairless.
