A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Chaux family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 9712 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. à une tour d'arg., acc. de trois merlettes du même, rangées en chef.”
Franche-ComteFranche-Comte, c. 1663
Where the Chaux Arms Were Recorded
Franche-Comte
Map of France showing where the Chaux arms are recorded
The Chaux arms were recorded in Franche-Comte, c. 1663.
Franche-Comte sat between France and the Empire and changed hands more than once. Border families held their land under arms and expected to defend it, so a shield was a practical thing rather than an ornament.
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 Chaux 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 Franche-Comte.
Origin & History of the Chaux Family in France
The name Chaux finds its historical roots in the rugged landscape of the Franche-Comté region of eastern France. The word itself is derived from the Old French term for lime, which suggests that the earliest members of the family likely lived near limestone quarries or worked in the production of lime. By 1663, records confirm that the family was well-established within this mountainous territory near the border of Switzerland. During this period, families in the region were often deeply tied to the land and the local parish structure. The Chaux family likely navigated the complex social changes of the seventeenth century while living in small, tight-knit communities that relied on agriculture and local trade. Their presence in the region during the mid-1600s places them in a time of transition as the Franche-Comté moved toward becoming a permanent part of the French kingdom.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé d'or, sur un parti d'azur et d'or; à un bras, arm. de sa., gantelé d'arg., tenant une bannière du même, br. sur l'or en”
Switzerlandc. 1745
Where the Chaux Arms Were Recorded
Bern
Map of Switzerland showing where the Chaux arms are recorded
The Chaux 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 Chaux Family in Switzerland
The family name Chaux is deeply rooted in the geography of western Switzerland, where it likely originated as a topographical surname. In the French language, the term *chaux* refers to lime or limestone, suggesting that the earliest ancestors to carry this name were likely associated with the limestone-rich landscapes of the Jura Mountains or worked in the local lime-burning industry. By the time members of the family were documented in Bern in 1745, they were part of a society that placed great importance on civic registration and guild membership. During this period, families in the Swiss Confederation often moved between rural areas and growing urban centers like Bern to seek new economic opportunities in trade or craft. As the name spread from its regional origins, it became a marker of a family that had successfully integrated into the administrative and social life of the Swiss cantons.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Calx
Latin term for lime or limestone.
This name
ChauxRefers to a person who lived near a limestone quarry or worked as a lime burner.
also spelled
Chaulx
Chaus
Chaul
Sho
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Doubs, Registres paroissiaux de la commune de Chaux, 1663
Bavoux, François, La vie quotidienne en Franche-Comté au XVIIe siècle, 1957
Frossard, Charles-Louis, Histoire des populations de la Franche-Comté, 1856
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towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
