A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Chiron family of France.
Reg. 3451 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“De gu. au croiss. d'arg.; au chef du même, ch. de trois coquilles de sa.”
BretagneBretagne, c. 1663
Where the Chiron Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Chiron arms are recorded
The Chiron arms were recorded in Bretagne, c. 1663.
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 Chiron 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 Bretagne.
Origin & History of the Chiron Family in France
The family name Chiron has deep roots in the western region of France known as Bretagne, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1663. The name itself is likely derived from the Old French word chiron, which historically referred to a small hill or a rocky mound in the landscape. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to carry the name were likely people who lived near a distinct geographical landmark or worked on specific types of stony terrain. Over time, as families became more settled in their local parishes, the name became a way to identify individuals based on their connection to the land. By the mid-seventeenth century, the Chiron family was already established within the social fabric of the region, participating in the daily life and record-keeping traditions of their local communities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Chir
Derived from the Greek word for hand or a rocky terrain.
This name
ChironRefers to a person living near a heap of stones or rocky ground.
also spelled
Chyron
Kiron
Shiron
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives Départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
