A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cheron family of France.
Reg. 4944 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
millrind / fer de molineThe mill's iron, and the grinding of grain
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“D'or à un fer-de-moulin de sa.”
Francec. 1663
Where the Cheron Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Cheron arms are recorded
The Cheron arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Cheron 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 Cheron Family in France
The family name Cheron has deep roots in the Brittany region of France, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1663. The name is believed to have originated as a descriptive nickname, likely derived from the Old French word "cher," which suggests a person who was held in high regard or was considered dear to their community. During the seventeenth century, families in this coastal area were often tied to the land or local trade, and the name would have been passed down through generations as these individuals integrated into the social fabric of the province. Because Brittany maintained a distinct cultural and linguistic identity during this period, the Cheron family likely participated in the unique traditions and local governance that defined life in the region. Over time, the family name became a permanent fixture in local parish registers, documenting their growth and presence in the towns and rural parishes of the Breton countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Carus
Latin term meaning dear, beloved, or precious.
This name
CheronA French habitational or occupational surname derived from a term for a dear or beloved person.
also spelled
Cherond
Cheront
Sheron
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
millrind / fer de molineThe mill's iron, and the grinding of grain
millrind / fer de molineThe mill's iron, and the grinding of grain
