Map of France showing where the Chris arms are recorded
The Chris arms were recorded in France, 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 Chris 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 Chris Family in France
The family name Chris has deep roots in the historical region of Bretagne, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1663. During this period, the name likely functioned as a shortened form of names starting with the prefix Chris, such as Christian or Christopher, which were common throughout Western Europe due to the strong influence of the church. Families living in Bretagne at this time often experienced a blend of local Breton traditions and broader French administrative practices. Because the region was a hub for maritime trade and agriculture, the early members of the Chris family were likely integrated into the local village structures that defined life in the seventeenth century. Over time, the name evolved as it was recorded in parish registers and legal documents, reflecting the transition from spoken nicknames to formal surnames in rural communities.
Chris Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Christophorus
Derived from Greek meaning bearing or carrying Christ.
This name
ChrisA shortened form of Christopher, signifying a follower or bearer of Christ.
also spelled
Cherisi
Sherizee
Sherisy
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 d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Fonds de la série B (Cours et juridictions)
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Deshayes, Albert, Dictionnaire des noms de famille bretons, 1995
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
