Map of France showing where the Chesser arms are recorded
The Chesser arms were recorded in Lausanne, 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 Chesser 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 Chesser Family in France
The family name Chesser has deep roots that trace back to the region of Bretagne in northwestern France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in this coastal area. The name likely evolved from local occupational or geographic descriptions common to the Breton language and culture of that era. As the family grew, some members moved across the English Channel to the British Isles, where the spelling eventually shifted to the form used today. This migration was part of a larger movement of people seeking new opportunities in trade and agriculture during the seventeenth century. Throughout this period, the Chesser family remained connected to the traditions and social structures of their original homeland while adapting to the changing landscapes of their new environments.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
chassier
Derived from the Old French word for a hunter or huntsman.
This name
ChesserAn occupational surname for someone who worked as a hunter or gamekeeper in medieval France.
also spelled
Chyssier
Kissier
Shissier
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B (Archives de la justice seigneuriale)
Galliou, Patrick, Histoire de la Bretagne, 2005
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
