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)“De gu. au chev. d'or, acc. en chef de deux roses d'arg. et en p. d'un lévrier courant du même.”
A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Caillat family of Germany.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“De gu. au chev. d'or, acc. en chef de deux roses d'arg. et en p. d'un lévrier courant du même.”
The Caillat arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit in the registers.
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 the Holy Roman Empire, coats of arms were often granted to individuals by the Emperor or his representatives. These arms were then passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants of the original holder. Younger branches of a family usually kept the same shield design without needing to change it, as the arms belonged to the entire lineage.
The family name Caillat is rooted in the linguistic traditions of Western Europe, where it likely evolved as a descriptive term for people living near stone quarries or rocky terrain. While the name carries strong connections to French-speaking regions, historical records confirm that members of the family were well-established in Bavaria by 1765. During this period, the family likely integrated into the local German-speaking society while maintaining their distinct ancestral identity. Many families with similar names during the eighteenth century were involved in skilled trades or agricultural management, which allowed them to settle permanently in the rural landscapes of Southern Germany. As they moved across borders, the name remained a constant link to their heritage, representing a lineage that successfully adapted to the social and political shifts of the Holy Roman Empire.
Latin term meaning clever, skillful, or experienced.
