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| The Coat of Arms of House Geoffre de Chabrignac Stain-glass window of the Church of Saint Pierre |
The Origins of the Family
The House of de GEOFFRE is an ancient family from Limousin.
On September 8, 1789 the Council of State of the Kingdom of France recognized that the children of Jean-Baptiste-Joseph de GEOFFRE de CHABRIGNAC (1739-1781) were descendants of Gerald de GEOUFFRE, Lord of Chabrignac who lived in Limousin in 1276. Thus, this decree confirmed fifteen degrees of ancient and noble lineage on the family for all time (Source 7). The document now forms part of the National Archives of France (Number 2651, Folio 213).
It is important to recognize that the family name might have three possible spellings:
1) GEOUFFRE
2) GEOFFRE
3 and GEOFROY
Today, the family uses the spelling of "Geoffre".
Historically, the House of GEOFFRE de CHABRIGNAC were Lords (seigneurs) of
1) de Chabrignac
2) de Noailliac
3) de la Jante
4) de Trouveyant
5) de Brignac
6) du fief du château Sarrazin (dit Maison-Fort) and many others.
[Source of information "Annuaire de la noblesse de France et des maisons souveraines de l'Europe", Volume 16, 1859]
The title of Marquis in the Kingdom of France was given the the House of GEOFFRE de CHABRIGNAC on December 23, 1769 by the grace of His Majesty the King of France and Navarre, Louis XV (Source 7).
The House of GEOFFRE de CHABRINAC was united with the House of GAIGNERON JOLLIMON de MAROLLES in 1929.
The Arms (Blason)
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The GEOFFRE de CHABRIGNAC arms is describe as
"Palé d'argent et de gueule de six pièces ; au chef fascé d'or et d'azur de six pièces" (Source 9).
The motto of the House of GEOFFRE de CHABRIGNAC is "Una Fides" (One Faith) and in French "J'offre tout à la Patrie" (I offer all to the Motherland).
Two other coat of arms were known to have been used by the House of GEOFFRE de CHABRIGNAC (Source 3). These arms are similar to the one above.
| As a result of being created by the Grace of His Majesty, The King of France and Navarre, Marquis in the Kingdom of France, the family uses the crown of Marquis as part of their coat of arms (blason) since 1769. | ||
Abbreviated Genealogy (1739-Present)
Marquis de Geoffre de Chabrignac
Jean Baptiste de GEOFFRE de CHABRIGNAC (1739-1781), 1st Marquis de GEOFFRE de CHABRIGNAC, Brigadier des armées du Roi, Chevalier de l'ordre royal et militaire de Saint-Louis
Married Agnès Thérèse SEMEN de BRÉMONT and issued:
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| La Maison de SEMEN de BRÉMONT |
1) Jacques-Joseph-Henri-Louis-Laurent
2) Charles
3) Jacques-Louis-Raymond
4) Jean-Marcure-Auguste
Jean Baptiste de GEOFFRE de CHABRIGNAC was given the title of Marquis in the Kingdom of France by King Louis XV.
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| Jean Baptiste de GEOFFRE de CHABRIGNAC (1739-1781). Image Courtesy of Marc GAUER |
Jacques de GEOFFRE de CHABRIGNAC (Jacques Joseph Henri Louis Laurent), Marquis de GEOFFRE de CHABRIGNAC, Ordre Royal et Militaire de Saint-Louis (Chevalier) 1772-1858
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| Jacques Joseph Henri Louis Laurent (1772-1858). Image Courtesy Marc GAUER |
In 1791, Jacques and his family emigrated and he formed part of l' armée de Condé were he distinguished himself militarily. He died at the castle de Roches and married in Berlin.
Married in 1796 Jeanne de ROSEMBAUM (+1855) and issued
1) Charles- Louis- Auguste, 2nd Marquis de Geoffre de Chabrignac
2) Louis-Joseph-Ferdinand (Head of the House and Branch of SAVASSE, Counts de Chabrignac)
Charles Louis Auguste de GEOFFRE de CHABRIGNAC (1796-1874), 2nd Marquis de GEOFFRE de CHABRIGNAC, Captain of Infantry
Married in 1829 Anne-Isabelle BONNIN de la BONNINIERE de BEAUMONT and issued:
1) Henri-Louis-Charles-Dieudonne, 3rd Marquis de Geoffre de Chabrignac
2) Armand Auguste-Ferdinand, died without issue
3) Raymond-Charles, Vicount of Chabrignac and Head of the Branch of Chabrignac
4) Jean-Marie-Jules,
5) Marie-Anne,
6) and Henriette-Leontine-Marie
La Maison de BONNIN de la BONNINIERE de BEAUMONT
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| La Maison de HEMERY |
Henri Louis Charles Dieudonné de GEOFFRE de CHABRIGNAC (1829-1902), 3rd Marquis de GEOFFRE de CHABRIGNAC, Intendant général des armées, Commander of the Legion of Honor
Married on April 4, 1859 Louise Alice HEMERY de LAZENAY (1838-1904) and issued (Louis-Charles-Henri and Henriette) |
| (Image Courtesy of Marc GAUER) |
Louis- Charles- Henri de GEOFFRE de CHABRIGNAC (1860-1902), 4th Marquis de GEOFFRE de CHABRIGNAC, Capitaine de cavalerie au service de l'Etat-major de l'armée territoriale, membre du conseil d'arrondissement de Saumur
Married on June 3, 1886 Jeanne de La SELLE d'ESCHUILLY (1865-1919) and issued1) Marie de Geoffre de Chabrignac
2) Jean-Baptiste-Henri-Marie-Raymond de Geoffre de Chabrignac (1889-1971), Marquis de Geoffre de Chabrignac
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| La Maison de La SELLE d'ESCHUILLY |
Jean Baptiste Henri Marie Raymond de GEOFFRE de CHABRIGNAC (1889-1971), 5th Marquis de GEOFFRE de CHABRIGNAC, Commander in the French Air Forces, Agriculteur. Député. Sénateur du Maine-et-Loire, Cheavlier of the Legion of Honor
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| Circa 1919 Marriage of J.B.Henri de GEOFFRE de CHABRIGNAC and Isabelle Hennessy (Photo Courtesy of gallica.bnf) |
Married Isabelle HENNESSY on May 25, 1919. The issued:
1) Gerald de Geoffre de Chabrignac (1920), 6th Marquis de Geoffre de Chabrignac, directeur général de Hennessy
2) Raymond de Geoffre de Chabrignac (1922)
[Note: Isabelle Hennessy was the daughter of James Richard Hennessy Alice~ Hennessy, heirs of the Hennessy Cognac)
Gerald de Geoffre de Chabrignac, 6th Marquis de GEOFFRE de CHABRIGNAC
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| Gerald de Geoffre de Chabrignac (Source 10) |
Married Hélène Pierre de Bernis and issued:
1) Jocelyne de Geoffre de Chabrignac (1944)
2) Laurence de Geoffre de Chabrignac (1947) m. René, Count de Vincens de Causans and issued
a. Rodolphe, Count de Vincens de Causans m. Anna Cecilia di Borbone, principessa delle Due Sicilie and issued (Amadeo and Victoria)
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| The Royal Arms of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies |
3) Louis de Geoffre de Chabrignac (1950), 7th Marquis de Geoffre de Charbrignac
[Source 5 for information on the branch of Counts de Vincens de Causans)]
Louis de Geoffre de Chabrignac, 7th Marquis de GEOFFRE de CHABRIGNAC
The Counts Geoffre de Chabrignac
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| La Maison de POURTALES-GORGIER |
Raymond Charles de GEOFFRE de CHABRIGNAC (1836-1897), Count de Geoffre de Chabrignac and General of Division in the French Army, Commander of the French Legion of Honor
Married in 1872 Louise de POURTALES (1847) and issued:1) Marguerite
2) Armand
3) Madeleine
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| Raymond-Charles de GEOFFRE de CHABRIGNAC (1836-1897) Image Courtesy of Marc GAUER |
[Note: In certain cases the branch of Raymond-Charles de Geoffre de Chabrignac is referred to the Viscounts of Chabrignac as in the genealogical study of Mr. Marc GAUER]
Armand Gustave Joseph de GEOFFRE de CHABRIGNAC (1874-1932), Count de Geoffre de Chabrignac, Chevalier of the Legion of Honor, général d'Artillerie of the French Army
Married on October 15, 1901 to Jeanne de PONTAC (1876-1969) and issued:
1) Raymond,
2) Marguerite,
3) Louise married Jacques de GAIGNERON JOLLIMON de MAROLLES, Count de MAROLLES
4) Madeleine,
5) Therese,
6) and Joseph
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| La Maison de PONTAC |
Louise Marie Therese de GEOFFRE de CHABRIGNAC (1905-1983)
Married September 3, 1929 to Jacques de GAIGNERON JOLLIMON de MAROLLES, Count de MAROLLES, Croix de Guerre (1900-1980) and issued
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| La Maison de GAIGNERON JOLLIMON de MAROLLES |
2) Thérèse de Gaigneron Jollimon de Marolles m. Michel Veillet-Lavallée
3) Michel de Gaigneron Jollimon de Marolles, Count de Marolles m. Nicole Pascault
4) Miren de Gaigneron Jollimon de Marolles m. Hubert Jabet
5) Jean de Gaigneron Jollimon de Marolles m. Sabine de Martimprey
6) Marie-Odile de Gaigneron Jollimon de Marolles m. Robert Carrieu
Click to See GAIGNERON Genealogy
Joseph Antoine Raymond de GEOFFRE de CHABRIGNAC (1912-2003), Count de Geoffre de Chabrignac
Married Françoise PAILLARD de CHENAY (+2013) and issued (Elizabeth, Sibylle, Philippe, and Beatrice)
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| La Maison de PAILLARD |
2) Sibylle de Geoffre de Chabrignac
3) Philippe de Geoffre de Chabrignac m. Marguerite Hellouin de Menibus
4) Béatrice de Geoffre de Chabrignac m. François Xavier Pasquier Bernachot
Philippe de GEOFFRE de CHABRIGNAC, Count de Geoffre de Chabrignac
Married Marguerite Hellouin de MENIBUS and issued (Sibylle and Dauphine) |
| La Maison Hellouin de Ménibus |
The Branch of SAVASSE,
Counts de Geoffre de Chabrignac
Louis-Joseph-Ferdinand de Geoffre de Chabrignac (1809-1873), Count de Geoffre de Chabrignac
He was the son of Jacques de Geoffre de Chabrignac, Marquis de Chabrignac (1772-1858) and Jeanne de Rosenbaum (1855)Louis-Joseph-Ferdiand married on April 24, 1839 Marie Melanie de VALERIAN-BOISSET (1821-1899) and issued:
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1) Alfred (1840-1915), Count de Chabrignac
2) Marie Louisa (1845-1899)
3) Ferdinand (1848-1925), Viscount of Chabrignac.
Alfred de Geoffre de Chabrignac (1840-1915), Count de Geoffre de Chabrignac
Married on October 25, 1865 Marie de SABRAN-PONTEVES (1838-1867) and issued (Marie Delphine Charlotte Regine (1867-1867) |
| La Maison de SABRAN-PONTEVES, Ducs de SABRAN |
Second marriage in December 1875 to Isabelle de GHEEST (1853-1916) and issued:
1) Marie Louis Ferdinand Ghislain Pierre de Geoffre de Chabrignac (1876-1879)
2) Madeleine de Geoffre de Chabrignac (1878-1973) married François HAROUARD de SUAREZ d'AULAN, Marquis d'Aulan (1864-1910)
3) Madeleine de Geoffre de Chabrignac (1878-1973) married Achielle ADAM (1859-1914)
4) Jacques de Geoffre de Chabrignac (1880-1969) married Marie NEYT (1874-1958) and issued
5) Pierre de Geoffre de Chabrignac (1892)
Jacques de Geoffre de Chabriganc (1880-1969), Count de Geoffre de Chabrignac
Married Marie NEYT (1874-1958) and issued:
1) Louis de Geoffre de Chabrignac (1914-2006), Count de Geoffre de Chabrignac married Simone Campion (+1986) and issued
2) François Charles Henri de Geoffre de Chabrignac (1917-1970), commandant d'aviation
married Antoinette DADAY and issued (Claude)
François obtained seven victories as a fighter pilot earning him the nickname of "Le baron". He was made an Officer of the Legion of Honor, Médaille Militaire, Croix de Guerre 39/45, ordres soviétiques: Salut de la Patrie, Drapeau Rouge, Médaille de la Victoire. In addition, François was the author of several books (Source 11).
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| François Charles Henri de Geoffre de Chabrignac (1917-1970) - Image Source 12 |
Viscounts of Chabrignac
Ferdinand de Geoffre de Chabrignac (1848-1925), Viscount of Chabrignac
Married on February 20, 1878 Marguerite de MAUSSAC (1853-1925) and issued: |
| La Maison de MAUSSAC |
1) Henry de Geoffre de Chabrignac (1882-1955), Vicount of Chabrignac
2) Henriette de Geoffre de Chabrignac (1884-1966)
3) Marie de Geoffre de Chabrignac (1886)
4) Jeanne de Geoffre de Chabrignac (1889)
5) Monique de Geoffre de Chabrignac (1891)
6) Regine de Geoffre de Chabrignac (1893-1970)
Henry de Geoffre de Chabrignac (1882-1955), Viscount of Chabrignac
He married on July 26, 1892 Simone GUILLET (1892-1925).
Secondly, he married on February 8, 1897 Madeleine GERBEAU (1897-1980) and issued
Henry was also an author of "Les souvenirs de vénerie en Sologne" (2000)
The Castle and Chapel of Saint Croix de Chabrignac
In the 16th century, the family of GEOFFRE asked the Lords of Noailliac permission to build a chapel so that the faithful could receive the sacraments from the surrounding are (Source 1). After much heated discussion between the House of Geoffre and the House of Noailliac, a chapel was erected in 1664. It was given the name of Chapel de Saint Croix.
The family de GEOFFRE were allowed to inter their dead at the chapel. Unfortunately, the chapel did not survive the French Revolution. It laid in ruins.However, there are some parts of the chapel that have survived. Below are some images (courtesy of the "Noailhac Patrimoine").
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| Image of Fish Carvings on Stone (symbol of Christ) in Noaihac. Ruins of the chapel. Source 1). |
The Geoffre de Chabrignac also built a castle near the Chapel of Saint Croix. The date of building is unknown but it was in ruins by 1899 (Source 1).
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| Image of a doorway of the Chabrignac castle in Noaihac (Source 1) |
The Church of Saint Pierre
The church dates from about 1072 and has been recognized as a national monument by the French government since 1923 (Source 1). It is located in the region of Noailhac. The church contains a magnificent stain class window with the arms of the Geoffre de Chabrignac as well as several tombs of the family. |
| Stain glass window with the arms of the Geoffre (Source 1) |
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Sources Consulted:
1) Le château de Chabrigna
2) Wikipedia entry "Geoffre"
3) " de Geoffre" by Mr. Marc GAUER (published 6/12/2011 on http://en.calameo.com). Many thanks for the images provided for this blog of Jean Baptiste de GEOFFRE de CHABRIGNAC (1739-1781), Jacques Joseph Henri Louis Laurent (1772-1858 and others.
4) " de Geoffre" by Jean GALLIAN. From his website the following arms were used in this blog: de la SELLE, de BONNIN de la BONNIERE de BAUMONT, and de PONTAC.
5) GeneALL.net. entry "Geoffre"
6) "Heraldique-blasons-armoiries"
7) "Institut héraldique universel.", (1900) on "Google Books"
8) "Hennessy Family Tree" [note that the last name of family is spelled in correctly in this website as "de Geoffre De Chabugnac"]
9) "Annuaire heraldique et mondain" (1902) on "gallica.bnf.fr."
10) Image of Gerald de Geoffre de Chabrignac retrived from the newpapsers article "The Count and the Saint Bernard" by Winifred Munday
11) Mr. Pierre Barbier de la Serre. Information provided on the genealogy of François Charles Henri de Geoffre de Chabrignac (1917-1970).
12) Website information on the air regiment "Normadie Niemen": Image of François Charles Henri de Geoffre de Chabrignac (1917-1970) are a courtesy of this website.
