A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Collignon family of France.
Reg. 4981 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
ermineDignity and rank
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur au chev. d'or, acc. en chef de deux mouch. d'herm. du même, et en p. d'une rose d'arg.”
LorraineLorraine, c. 1476
Where the Collignon Arms Were Recorded
Lorraine
Map of France showing where the Collignon arms are recorded
The Collignon 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 Collignon 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 Collignon Family in France
The family name Collignon originated as a diminutive form of the name Nicolas, which was a very popular choice in the French-speaking regions during the Middle Ages. By the late 15th century, the name was firmly established in the Lorraine region of northeastern France. Historical records confirm that members of the family were living in this area by 1476, a time when Lorraine was a powerful duchy caught between the interests of the French crown and the Holy Roman Empire. Because the name began as a nickname for Nicolas, it likely started as a way to distinguish younger family members or children from their elders within the same household. Over time, this personal nickname evolved into a permanent surname that was passed down through generations of families living in the rural villages and growing towns of the Lorraine countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Nicolas
Derived from Greek meaning victory of the people.
This name
CollignonA diminutive form indicating a descendant or little version of Nicholas.
also spelled
Colignon
Colinyon
Related arms
Colignonvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Albert Dauzat, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Marie-Thérèse Morlet, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Archives Départementales de Meurthe-et-Moselle, Série B: Cours et juridictions sous l'Ancien Régime
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
