A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Calla family of France.
Reg. 5828 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé: au 1 d'or à l'aigle de sa., cour. du champ; au 2 de sa. à quatre pals de fourrure, les pièces de sa. arrondies au sommet.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Calla Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Calla arms are recorded
The Calla arms were recorded in France, 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 Calla 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 Calla Family in France
The family name Calla has deep roots in the historical region of Bretagne, France, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1725. During the eighteenth century, Bretagne was a distinct province with its own unique cultural identity and language, and families living there were often deeply connected to the local agricultural or maritime economy. The name itself likely evolved from regional dialects or nicknames used to describe a person’s character or their specific place of residence within a village. Because the region was known for its strong sense of community and parish life, families like the Callas were often documented in local church registers that tracked births, marriages, and deaths. These early ancestors were part of a resilient society that maintained strong traditions despite the political changes occurring in the rest of France during that era. By studying these local records, we can see that the Calla family was well-established in the social fabric of the Breton countryside long before the modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Calla
Derived from the Greek word kallos meaning beauty.
This name
CallaA locative surname referring to someone living near a beautiful lily or a place named Calla.
also spelled
Cala
Kalla
Related arms
Calavariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Finistère, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1725
Archives départementales du Morbihan, Série E, État civil et registres paroissiaux, 1725
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
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