A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Chauvin family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 8373 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à trois calices d'or, rangés en p., acc. en chef d'un soleil du sec.”
FranceParis, c. 1663
Where the Chauvin Arms Were Recorded
Paris
Map of France showing where the Chauvin arms are recorded
The Chauvin arms were recorded in Paris, c. 1663.
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 Chauvin 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 Chauvin Family in France
The surname Chauvin originates from the medieval French word "chauve," which translates to bald. In early French society, such names were often used as descriptive nicknames to distinguish individuals within a growing population. By the time records place the family in Paris in 1663, the name had become a permanent hereditary surname passed down through generations. During this period, the Chauvin family lived in a city undergoing massive social and architectural changes under the reign of King Louis XIV. As the family established their roots in the capital, they became part of the urban fabric of a nation transitioning from the feudal era into a centralized monarchy. Their presence in 17th-century Paris suggests they were likely part of the expanding class of tradespeople or civil servants who helped sustain the daily operations of the French state.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
lionCourage, strength and royalty
swordJustice, and military honour
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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'azur à un mont de sin., sommé d'une tour d'arg.; aux 2 et 3 d'arg. au lion d'azur. Au chef de l'écu de gu., ch. de deux épées d'arg., garnies d'or, passées en saut. C.: un lion iss. d'azur, tenant de sa patte dextre un foudre de sept flèches d'or. L. d'arg. et d'azur. D.: GETREU UND BEHARRLICH.”
Germanyc. 1864
Where the Chauvin Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Chauvin arms are recorded
The Chauvin arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1864.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit in the registers.
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 Germany in this period.
Wilhelm I
Sovereign of the period
Wilhelm I
1861–1888
Reigning in France when the Chauvin arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
Prussian heraldry was strictly tied to social rank and noble status rather than being a free choice for every citizen. These symbols were treated as permanent family property that moved through the generations to all legitimate heirs. If a family branch wanted to change their design to stand out, they had to apply for official permission to alter their specific version of the shield.
Granting authority
The Prussian Heroldsamt acted as the central state office that managed and strictly controlled all noble titles and coats of arms.
How they got arms
Families usually obtained their arms through formal royal grants or by proving their long-standing noble status to the state authorities.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms were kept in the rolls of the Prussian Heroldsamt, which functioned from 1706 until 1918.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Germany.
Origin & History of the Chauvin Family in Germany
The surname Chauvin carries a distinct history that traces back to the Germanic regions, specifically within the southern territories of Bavaria. While the name is often associated with French linguistic roots, its presence in German records by 1864 suggests a family lineage deeply integrated into the social and agricultural fabric of the Bavarian landscape during the nineteenth century. Families bearing this name were likely part of the local artisan or farming classes who lived through a period of significant political transition as the German states moved toward unification. During this era, individuals named Chauvin were documented in regional civil registries, which tracked the movement and growth of families across the changing borders of the German Confederation. These early records highlight a family that established deep roots in their community, contributing to the local workforce and the evolving cultural identity of southern Germany long before the turn of the twentieth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Calvus
Latin term meaning bald or hairless.
This name
ChauvinA diminutive nickname for a person who was bald or had very little hair.
also spelled
Chauvyn
Chauvain
Shovan
Shovin
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
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Archives Nationales, Minutier central des notaires de Paris, Series MC/ET/LXXIII
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cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
lionCourage, strength and royalty
swordJustice, and military honour
