CHANGUION
A FAMILY HISTORY
Origin of the surname
Changuion (pronunciation: [ʃɑ̃ɡɥijɔ̃]) is a surname that originated in the Champagne province in what is now the Marne in the north-east of France.
The Changuion family possibly took their name from the commune of Champguyon,[1] sometimes spelt Chāguion (see the 1631 map of Champagne below) or Chamguion on old maps, which lies in the Brie region to the north of Esternay.
The place name Champguyon could be derived from the Old French words of "champ" (from Champagne, denoting the geographical region of the place, or champagne land) and "guyon" (meaning a large pine wood).[2] Thus, meaning a large pine wood on champagne land. This would correspond with what can be seen on some ancient maps that show a large forrest in the vicinity the village.
There are superficial similarities between this surname and the surname Sanguin (from the French for "of blood" or "full-blooded").
References
Map of Champagne, France, 1631. Chāguion (today, Champguyon) is possibly the place of origin of the Changuion family name.
A map from 1644 of the area of Sezanne, with the commune of Champguyon on the far left of the map, just below the large forest.
Coat of arms
The coat of arms consist of in blue a Moor's head of natural colour, accompanied above by two golden flaming stars and below by a silver crescent. Crest: a star from the shield. Mantling: blue lined with gold. For the noble branch of the family, a barred helm of silver with a golden crown of three leaves and two pearls. Motto: Zèlé pour la Foi et le Roi (Zeal for the Faith and the King) in black letters on a white ribbon.[1]
A centuries-old family tradition holds that during the time of religious persecution in France, members of the family found refuge with Muslims who hid them from their pursuers. Another source suggests that the account of the ancestors finding refuge with Muslims may trace back to the era of the Crusades.[2] In gratitude and to honor their protectors, the family incorporated a Moor’s head, a heraldic symbol representing a Muslim, into their coat of arms.
Both of these depictions show the coat of arms issued to jonkheer Francois Daniel Changuion and his descendants.
The source of the bottom image is the Patent of Nobility (Adelsdiploma) of F.D. Changuion (1766-1850), issued in 1815.
References
Early history
It is known that a Professor François Changuion was lecturing in the anatomy department of the University of Paris in 1416. There are also mentions of Changuions residing in Toulouse in the early 1500s.[1]
One of the earliest written historical mentions of the surname dates from 1562. A Pierre Changuion was named as one of a group of Protestants that were attacked on 1 March 1562 during a church service in Wassy by Roman Catholic troops of the Duke of Guise. His house, which was next to the barn where the church service was held, was completely ransacked.[2] This Pierre was to become the ancestor of the Dutch branches and the South African branch of the Changuion family.
References
Sources