Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'azur à un ours d'arg., bridé de sa.”
A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cadore family of France.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'azur à un ours d'arg., bridé de sa.”
The Cadore arms were recorded in Bretagne, c. 1663.
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.
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.
The family name Cadore finds its historical roots in the rugged landscape of Bretagne, France, where records confirm the family was established by at least 1663. During this period, the region was a center of maritime activity and traditional agriculture, which likely shaped the daily lives of early family members. The name itself is thought to be a topographic or locative surname, meaning it was often used to identify people based on the specific land they farmed or the local landmarks near their homes. As the family grew, they became part of the tightly knit social fabric of the Breton countryside, participating in the local parish life that defined the era. By remaining in this distinct cultural region, the early Cadore family helped preserve the unique traditions and linguistic heritage that have defined the people of Bretagne for centuries.
Derived from the Latin word cadere meaning to fall or descend.
