A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Chew family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 1183 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. au chev. d'or; au chef du même, ch. de trois têtes de léopard du champ. C.: une tête de léopard de gu.”
FranceEtats-Unis, c. 1725
Where the Chew Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Chew arms are recorded
The Chew arms were recorded in Etats-Unis, c. 1725.
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 XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Chew 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 Chew Family in France
The family name Chew has deep roots in the coastal region of Bretagne, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1725. During this period, the name was likely influenced by the local Breton and French linguistic traditions, which often transformed surnames based on regional dialects and phonetic spellings. Families in this part of France were frequently involved in maritime trade or local agriculture, as the geography of the peninsula encouraged strong connections to the sea and the land. By the early eighteenth century, the name was already part of the social fabric of the region, reflecting the migration patterns and community ties that defined life in western France. As the family grew, they became integrated into the local parish systems, which served as the primary way for officials to track residents and their family histories. This era marked a time of stability for the name before broader social changes began to reshape the demographics of the Breton countryside.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
wheelFortune's turning, and the carter's trade
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Az. a catharine wheel or, betw. two griffins' heads erased ar”
BedfordshireLondon · Bedfordshire, c. 1703
Where the Chew Arms Were Recorded
Bedfordshire
Map of England showing where the Chew arms are recorded
The Chew arms were recorded in Bedfordshire, c. 1703.
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.
Anne of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
Anne of Great Britain
1702–1707
Reigning in France when the Chew 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 Bedfordshire.
Origin & History of the Chew Family in England
The family name Chew is rooted in the landscape of medieval England, where it likely originated as a topographic surname. In the Old English language, the term "chew" or "cho" often referred to a small wood or a narrow valley, suggesting that the earliest people to carry the name lived near such a geographical feature. While the name appeared in various regions over the centuries, records confirm a clear presence of the family in the county of Bedfordshire by 1703. During this era, families with this name were often involved in local agriculture and trade, contributing to the quiet development of rural English society. By settling in Bedfordshire, these early ancestors helped establish a lasting connection to the region that would eventually see the name spread across the country and beyond.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Chef
Derived from the Old French word for head or chief.
This name
ChewA topographical name for someone living at the head of a valley or a nickname for a leader.
also spelled
Chewe
Cheu
Cheww
Choo
Chue
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Finistère, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Archives départementales du Morbihan, Série E, État civil et registres paroissiaux
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.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
wheelFortune's turning, and the carter's trade
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
