A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Christison family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 4544 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
leafHappiness and abundance
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“D'or au chev. de sa., acc. de trois feuilles de laurier de sin., les tiges en bas. C.: une croix latine de gu., haussée sur trois degrés de pierre au nat. D.: VITAM DIRIGAT.”
FranceEdinbourg, c. 1871
Where the Christison Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Christison arms are recorded
The Christison arms were recorded in Edinbourg, c. 1871.
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.
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 Christison Family in France
The history of the Christison name in France is deeply tied to the regional identity of Bretagne during the late nineteenth century. While the name itself has roots in Northern Europe as a patronymic meaning son of Christian, its presence in French records becomes prominent following the social shifts of 1871. During this period, families bearing this name were established within the Breton landscape, likely integrating into the local maritime or agricultural communities that defined the region. Because Bretagne maintained a distinct cultural and linguistic heritage, families moving into the area often adapted to the local social structures while preserving their unique surnames. The arrival of the Christison name in this coastal province reflects the broader patterns of movement and settlement that characterized post-war France, marking the beginning of a distinct lineage within the French historical record.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
leafHappiness and abundance
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Or, a chev. sa. betw. three laurel leaves ppr”
Scotlandc. 1864
Where the Christison Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Christison arms are recorded
The Christison arms were recorded in Scotland, c. 1864.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh was the seat of Scotland's government, its courts and its heralds. Families with business there settled nearby, and being close to where arms were recorded is exactly why so many of them appear.
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 Scotland in this period.
Victoria
Sovereign of the period
Victoria
1837–1901
Reigning in France when the Christison arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Scotland
Scottish heraldry is unique because it treats a coat of arms as a piece of personal property protected by law. Only one person can own a specific design at any given time. When a family grows, the head keeps the original shield while other relatives must apply for their own distinct version with slight changes to prove their specific identity.
Granting authority
The Court of the Lord Lyon acts as the official body that regulates and controls all heraldic matters throughout Scotland.
How they got arms
Individuals obtain a legal right to their arms through a formal petition process that confirms their identity and family connection.
Where arms were recorded
All valid coats of arms are officially entered into the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings starting from 1672.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Scotland.
Origin & History of the Christison Family in Scotland
The surname Christison is a patronymic name, which means it originated as a way to identify a person as the son of a man named Christian. In Scotland, this name became established in the Lowlands and grew in prominence throughout the nineteenth century. By the mid-1800s, families bearing the name were well-integrated into the urban life of Edinburgh, where they contributed to the city’s professional and social development. While the name reflects a religious origin tied to the spread of Christianity in Northern Europe, its Scottish history is defined by the migration of families into growing industrial centers. These early residents were part of a broader movement of people who helped shape the administrative and cultural landscape of Scotland’s capital during a period of rapid modernization.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Christus
The Latin form of the Greek word for anointed one.
This name
ChristisonA patronymic surname meaning son of Christian or son of the follower of Christ.
also spelled
Christysen
Kristison
Christenson
Christeson
Related arms
Arbuthnotrecorded with Christison, same area
Falshawrecorded with Christison, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Morbihan, État civil et recensements de population
Gallouédec, Louis, La Bretagne, 1917
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
cross symbolChristian faith and service
leafHappiness and abundance
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
leafHappiness and abundance
