A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Chavanne family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 9437 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
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 croiss. d'or.”
Franche-ComteFranche-Comte, c. 1663
Where the Chavanne Arms Were Recorded
Franche-Comte
Map of France showing where the Chavanne arms are recorded
The Chavanne 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 Chavanne 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 Chavanne Family in France
The family name Chavanne finds its deep roots in the rugged landscape of the Franche-Comté region of eastern France. The name is topographical in origin, likely derived from the Old French word chavan, which refers to a clearing or a small plot of land carved out of a forest. By the year 1663, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in this mountainous area near the border of Switzerland. During the seventeenth century, the people of Franche-Comté lived through significant political changes as the region transitioned from Spanish control to French rule. Families like the Chavannes were typically involved in local agriculture or trade, making their living from the fertile valleys and dense woodlands of the Jura Mountains. Over time, the name became a marker of this specific regional identity, reflecting a history tied to the land and the resilient communities that developed in the eastern provinces of France.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur à la croix pattée alésée d'arg.”
Belgiumc. 1737
Where the Chavanne Arms Were Recorded
Brabant
Map of Belgium showing where the Chavanne arms are recorded
The Chavanne arms were recorded in Belgium, c. 1737.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Brabant.
Brabant lay at the heart of the Low Countries, where the trade routes met. Its towns were wealthy and its landowners many, and both kinds of family kept arms, which is why the region is so heavily represented.
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 Belgium in this period.
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
1711–1740
Reigning in France when the Chavanne arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Belgium
In Belgium, a coat of arms is considered personal property that is passed down through the male line to legitimate descendants. Families often use the same shield design across generations to show their shared heritage. If a branch of the family wants to change the design, they must apply for an official update to their specific version of the arms.
Granting authority
The Conseil héraldique is the official body that regulates and approves all coats of arms in Belgium.
How they got arms
Families obtain their coats of arms through formal royal grants or by confirming their historical right to use existing designs.
Where arms were recorded
All approved coats of arms are officially recorded in the public registers of the Conseil héraldique since 1844.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Belgium.
Origin & History of the Chavanne Family in Belgium
The surname Chavanne finds its roots in the French language, where it describes someone who lived near a field of chestnuts or a small valley. By the early eighteenth century, the family established a notable presence in the Brabant region of Belgium. Records confirm that members of the family were living in this area by 1737, a time when the region was under the control of the Austrian Netherlands. During this period, families in Brabant were often deeply connected to the local agricultural economy and the growing urban centers of the Low Countries. As the family settled into their new environment, they became part of the social fabric of the region, navigating the complex political changes that defined Belgian history throughout the 1700s. Their early presence in Brabant suggests a history rooted in the transition between rural life and the developing administrative structures of the Belgian provinces.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
cava
Latin term for a hollow, cavity, or pit in the ground.
This name
ChavanneRefers to someone who lived near a hollow, valley, or small depression in the landscape.
also spelled
Chavan
Shavan
Shavanne
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
Archives départementales du Doubs, Série E: Familles, seigneuries et terres, 1663
Frain, Jean-Marie, Histoire de la Franche-Comté, 1977
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
cross symbolChristian faith and service
