A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Chessé family of France.
Reg. 2615 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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'arg. au chev. de gu., acc. de trois merlettes de sa.”
PoitouPoitou, c. 1663
Where the Chessé Arms Were Recorded
Poitou
Map of France showing where the Chessé arms are recorded
The Chessé arms were recorded in Poitou, c. 1663.
Poitou was western French farming country, divided among a large number of small landed families. Its gentry were numerous and modest, and even a small estate was enough to justify a shield.
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 Chessé 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 Poitou.
Origin & History of the Chessé Family in France
The family name Chessé has deep roots in the historical province of Poitou, France, where members of the family were documented as early as 1663. During this period, Poitou was a region defined by its agricultural landscape and its role in the complex social structure of the French kingdom. Families like the Chessés often lived in rural communities where they were closely tied to the land and the local parish system. Life in the seventeenth century required a strong connection to one's neighbors and the local church, which served as the primary center for recording births, marriages, and deaths. As the family established their presence in this region, they became part of the long history of the French countryside, living through an era of significant political and social change. Their early presence in Poitou suggests that they were settled members of the community who contributed to the local culture and economy of western France for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Chesne
Old French term for an oak tree.
This name
ChesséA topographic name for someone who lived near an oak tree or forest.
also spelled
Ches
Shesay
Chess
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Vienne, Collection de l'état civil de la commune de Poitiers
Beauchet-Filleau, Henri, Dictionnaire historique et généalogique des familles du Poitou, 1891
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
