A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cadwalader family of France.
Reg. 6921 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à une croissette pattée au pied fiché d'or.”
FranceEtats-Unis, c. 1725
Where the Cadwalader Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Cadwalader arms are recorded
The Cadwalader arms were recorded in Etats-Unis, c. 1725.
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.
Louis XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Cadwalader 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 Cadwalader Family in France
The name Cadwalader is deeply rooted in the ancient Welsh language, where it is derived from the words for battle and leader. Historically, the name was associated with royalty and leadership in medieval Wales, most notably through the seventh-century King Cadwaladr ap Cadwallon. By the early eighteenth century, the family had established a presence in the Brittany region of France by 1725. This migration was likely part of a broader movement of people across the Celtic regions of Western Europe during that era. As the family settled into their new environment, they maintained the distinct linguistic heritage of their ancestors while adapting to the social structures of their adopted home. This transition highlights the enduring nature of the name as it moved from the mountains of Wales to the coastal landscapes of Brittany.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cadwaladr
Derived from the Welsh elements meaning battle and leader.
This name
CadwaladerA traditional Welsh name signifying a leader in battle or a battle-hardened commander.
also spelled
Kadwalader
Cadwallader
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Charles, B. G., The Place-Names of Pembrokeshire, 1992
Lloyd, John Edward, A History of Wales from the Earliest Times to the Edwardian Conquest, 1911
Archives départementales du Morbihan, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1725
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cross symbolChristian faith and service
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