A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Crewe family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 9219 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'azur au lion d'arg. (Crewe); aux 2 et 3 d'arg. à la croix fleurdelisée de gu., ch. d'un lion léopardé du champ (Offley). Cq. cour. C.: une patte de lion d'arg., posée en pal. S.: à dextre un lion d'arg., orné d'un collier de gu. ch. de trois roses d'or; à sen. un griffon de sa., bq. et m. de gu., ailé d'arg. D.: SEQUOR NEC INFERIOR.”
Francec. 1806
Where the Crewe Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Crewe arms are recorded
The Crewe arms were recorded in France, c. 1806.
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.
Napoleon
Sovereign of the period
Napoleon
1804–1814
Reigning in France when the Crewe 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 Crewe Family in France
The history of the Crewe name in France is deeply tied to the regional identity of Bretagne, where the family established a documented presence by the early nineteenth century. During this period, the name was likely shaped by the unique linguistic and social landscape of the Breton peninsula, a region known for its distinct cultural heritage and strong ties to maritime trade. Families living in this area often navigated complex shifts in local administration and land ownership following the political upheavals of the French Revolution. By 1806, members of the family were integrated into the local fabric of the region, participating in the daily life and economic activities of their communities. This early history suggests that the family was part of a stable social class that helped maintain the continuity of Breton traditions during a time of great national change.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Ancient Arms—Erm. fretty gu. Modern Arms—Az. a lion ramp. ar”
ChesterCrewe · Chester, c. 1620
Where the Crewe Arms Were Recorded
Chester
Map of England showing where the Crewe arms are recorded
The Crewe arms were recorded in Chester, c. 1620.
Cheshire was governed apart from the rest of England for much of its history, with its own courts and its own gentry. That separateness bred a strong local landed class, and landed families carried arms.
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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in France when the Crewe arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Chester.
Origin & History of the Crewe Family in England
The family name Crewe originates from the county of Cheshire in North West England, specifically taking its name from the township of Crewe. During the medieval period, families often adopted the names of the lands they held, and the early ancestors of the Crewe family established themselves as prominent landowners in this region. By the time the family was firmly documented in the city of Chester in 1620, they had already spent centuries rooting themselves in the social and political life of the area. The name itself is derived from the Old Welsh word *criw*, which refers to a weir or a place where fish were trapped in a river. This connection suggests that the family’s earliest history was deeply tied to the geography and natural resources of the Cheshire landscape. As the family grew, they became active participants in local administration and trade, helping to shape the development of Chester as a vital hub of commerce and governance during the seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
creux
A hollow, cavity, or depression in the landscape.
This name
CreweRefers to someone who lived in or near a hollow or valley.
also spelled
Krew
Kru
Crew
Crews
Related arms
Darrellsimilar arms
O'Mulloysimilar arms
Talbotsimilar arms
Crewsvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Morbihan, État civil et registres paroissiaux
Archives départementales du Finistère, Recensements de la population
Gautier, Hervé, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1993
Le Gall, Jean-Yves, La vie quotidienne en Bretagne au XIXe siècle, 1985
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
