A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Chetwode family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 5769 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
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)
“Ec. d'arg et de gu.; à quatre croisettes pattées, de l'un à l'autre. Cq cour. C.: un lion iss. de gu. D.: CORONA MEA CHRISTUS.”
BuckinghamshireBuckinghamshire, c. 1725
Where the Chetwode Arms Were Recorded
Map of France showing where the Chetwode arms are recorded
The Chetwode arms were recorded in Buckinghamshire, c. 1725.
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 XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Chetwode 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 Buckinghamshire.
Origin & History of the Chetwode Family in France
The family name Chetwode originates from a place name in Buckinghamshire, England, rather than from a direct migration of a French family surname. While many English surnames were brought over by Norman settlers following the events of 1066, the Chetwode name is rooted in the Old English language. It describes a specific clearing within a forest, and the family took this name from the village of Chetwode where they established their primary estate. By the time the family was well-documented in the region during the early 18th century, they had already been associated with this specific plot of land for hundreds of years. Although the name sounds similar to some continental European locations, it is a classic example of a locative surname that evolved from the local geography of the English countryside. The family served as prominent landowners in Buckinghamshire for generations, deeply embedding their identity into the history of that specific English county.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Quarterly, ar. and gu. four crosses pattée counterchanged”
StaffordOakley · Stafford, c. 1620
Where the Chetwode Arms Were Recorded
Stafford
Map of England showing where the Chetwode arms are recorded
The Chetwode arms were recorded in Stafford, c. 1620.
Staffordshire was mixed country of moorland, farmland and early ironworking. Its landed families were spread widely rather than concentrated, and each holding brought its own claim to arms.
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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in France when the Chetwode arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Stafford.
Origin & History of the Chetwode Family in England
The name Chetwode originates from a small village in Buckinghamshire, where the family established their roots long before moving to other parts of England. By the early seventeenth century, members of the family had settled in the county of Stafford, where they became active participants in local life. During this period, the family was part of the landed gentry, which meant they held significant tracts of land and played a role in the administration of their local communities. As they moved into the Staffordshire region, they integrated into the social and political structures of the area, often serving in local government or managing agricultural estates. This transition from their ancestral home to new territories reflects the broader movement of families across England during the Stuart era, as they sought to expand their influence and maintain their status within the changing landscape of the country.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Chetwood
Derived from Old English words for cottage and forest or wood.
This name
ChetwodeRefers to a person living near a cottage located within or adjacent to a wooded area.
also spelled
Chetwood
Related arms
Chetwoodvariant spelling
Brookerecorded with Chetwode, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names, 1960
Lipscomb, George, The History and Antiquities of the County of Buckingham, 1847
The National Archives, Kew, Records of the Chetwode Family of Chetwode and Oakley, Reference D/CH
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cross symbolChristian faith and service
cross symbolChristian faith and service
