Map of France showing where the Calais arms are recorded
The Calais arms were recorded in Lorraine, c. 1612.
Lorraine sat on the border between France and the German lands, and border country bred soldiers. Families here held small estates and served in arms, and a fighting man was exactly the sort who carried a shield of his own.
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 XIII of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIII of France
1610–1617
Reigning in France when the Calais 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 Lorraine.
Origin & History of the Calais Family in France
The name Calais is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of northeastern France, particularly within the region of Lorraine. By the early 17th century, records confirm that families bearing this name were established in the area, living through a time of significant social and political transition. The name itself is often associated with the geographic identity of the region, as it likely served as a descriptor for individuals who migrated from or maintained connections to the coastal city of Calais. During the 1600s, families in Lorraine were frequently involved in the agricultural and artisanal life of the duchy, which was then a crossroads for trade and cultural exchange in Europe. As these early ancestors settled into their communities, the name became a permanent part of the local registry, marking their presence in a region that was often shaped by the shifting borders of the Holy Roman Empire and the Kingdom of France.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Caletius
A Latinized form derived from the Celtic tribe name Caletes.
This name
CalaisRefers to a person originating from the city of Calais or the Caletes tribe.
also spelled
Calayse
Kalayz
Calais
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives: Archives départementales de Meurthe-et-Moselle, Série B: Cours et juridictions
Books: Lepage, Henri, Les communes de la Meurthe: Journal historique des villes, bourgs, villages, hameaux et censes, 1853
Books: Pfister, Christian, Histoire de Nancy, 1902
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