A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Chigi family of France.
Reg. 2118 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
wreathHonour, and a victory crowned
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'azur à un olivier de quatre branches d'arg., passées en saut. (della Rovere); aux 2 et 3 de gu. à un mont de six coupeaux d'or, surm. d'une étoile du même (Chigi).”
Francec. 1725
Where the Chigi Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Chigi arms are recorded
The Chigi arms were recorded in France, 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 Chigi 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 Chigi Family in France
The Chigi family name has deep roots that stretch across European history, with early records placing members of the lineage in the region of Bretagne by the year 1725. While the family is most famously associated with the banking elite and papal influence in Italy, branches of the family moved throughout the continent to manage trade and diplomatic interests. By the early eighteenth century, those settled in France had integrated into the local social and economic fabric of the coastal provinces. These early family members often served as intermediaries in commerce, taking advantage of the busy maritime routes that connected Bretagne to the rest of the Atlantic world. Their presence in this region highlights how noble and merchant families shifted their homes to secure new opportunities during a time of significant political change in Europe.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Giglio
Derived from the Italian word for lily flower.
This name
ChigiA locative or habitational name referring to someone associated with the lily emblem.
also spelled
Chigie
Chiggy
Chig
Keejee
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Fattorini, Emma. I Chigi: una famiglia nella storia. 2008
Volpi, Giuseppe. Cronologia de' sommi pontefici che contiene le vite de' medesimi. 1767
Archivio Segreto Vaticano, Archivio Chigi
Archives Départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B: Cours et juridictions
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
wreathHonour, and a victory crowned
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
wreathHonour, and a victory crowned
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
