A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Chesley family of France.
Reg. 6297 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
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 deux fasces d'arg.”
BourgogneBourgogne, c. 1663
Where the Chesley Arms Were Recorded
Bourgogne
Map of France showing where the Chesley arms are recorded
The Chesley arms were recorded in Bourgogne, c. 1663.
Bourgogne was one of the richest parts of France, built on wine, wool and the roads that carried both. Wealth of that kind bought land, and land brought arms, so the region filled with armed families earlier than most of the country.
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 Chesley 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 Bourgogne.
Origin & History of the Chesley Family in France
The surname Chesley has deep roots tied to the historical region of Bourgogne in eastern France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were already established in this area, which was then a prominent center for viticulture and trade. The name likely evolved from local geographic markers or descriptive terms used to identify families living near specific landmarks or wooded areas. As the family moved through the seventeenth century, they became part of the social fabric of the French countryside, living through a period of significant regional development. Over time, the name traveled beyond these initial borders, eventually finding its way into other parts of Europe and across the Atlantic as family members sought new opportunities in different lands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Caesareus
Derived from the Latin term for belonging to Caesar or imperial.
This name
ChesleyA locational surname originating from a camp or settlement near a river.
also spelled
Chesly
Cheslay
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Côte-d'Or, Série B: Cours et juridictions
Bouchard, Gérard, Quelques arpents d'Amérique: Population et économie du peuplement français au Canada, 1996
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
