A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cara family of France.
Reg. 7454 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“de gu., bq. et m. de sa.”
Francec. 1663
Where the Cara Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Cara arms are recorded
The Cara arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Cara 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 Cara Family in France
The family name Cara has deep roots in the historical region of Bretagne, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1663. During this period, the name was likely shaped by the unique linguistic landscape of western France, where the local Breton language often influenced how surnames were recorded in official church and civil documents. Families in this region were typically tied to the land through agriculture or maritime trades, which were the primary ways of life for the people of Bretagne in the seventeenth century. As the family grew, they became part of the local community fabric, participating in the parish life that defined social existence before the modern era. The persistence of the name in regional archives suggests that the early Cara family members were stable, settled residents who played their part in the long and distinct history of the Breton people.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Carus
Latin term meaning dear, beloved, or precious.
This name
CaraDerived from a nickname for a cherished or well-loved individual.
also spelled
Carra
Caras
Carae
Kara
Related arms
Kersimilar arms
Carravariant 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
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B, Fonds de la juridiction de Rennes
Gautier, René, Dictionnaire des noms de famille de Bretagne, 1993
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
