Map of France showing where the Colligan arms are recorded
The Colligan arms were recorded in Lorraine, c. 1476.
Lorraine sat on the border between France and the German lands, and border country bred soldiers. Families here held small estates and served in arms, and a fighting man was exactly the sort who carried a shield of his own.
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 XI of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XI of France
1461–1483
Reigning in France when the Colligan 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 Lorraine.
Origin & History of the Colligan Family in France
The history of the Colligan family name traces back to the region of Lorraine in eastern France during the late fifteenth century. Records indicate that members of the family were established in this area by 1476, a time when the duchy was a significant crossroads for trade and political power in Europe. The name likely evolved from local linguistic roots as families began to adopt fixed surnames to distinguish themselves within growing communities. Because Lorraine served as a buffer zone between French and Germanic cultures, the family name reflects the diverse social landscape of the period. Early Colligans were likely involved in the agricultural or artisanal life that defined the rural economy of the region. As the centuries progressed, the family name moved alongside shifting borders and changing social structures, eventually spreading into broader European territories.
Colligan Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Col
A diminutive form of the name Nicholas meaning victory of the people.
This name
ColliganDerived from a diminutive of Nicholas, often indicating a descendant of someone named Colin.
also spelled
Colignon
Colinyon
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de Meurthe-et-Moselle, Série B (Archives de la Chambre des comptes de Lorraine)
Bastien, Henri, Histoire de la Lorraine, 1970
Lepage, Henri, Les communes de la Meurthe: journal historique des villes, bourgs, villages, hameaux et censes de ce département, 1853
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
ermineDignity and rank
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
ermineDignity and rank
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
