A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Caraffa family of France.
Reg. 6304 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. à trois fasces d'arg. D.: CARA FE M'È LA VOSTRA. Manteau de gu., frangé d'or, doublé d'herm., sommé de la couronne princière [Les comtes du nom portent les mêmes armes. T.: deux anges de carn., ceints d'un voile de gu.]”
Francec. 1725
Where the Caraffa Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Caraffa arms are recorded
The Caraffa 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 Caraffa 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 Caraffa Family in France
The Caraffa family name carries a long and complex history that stretches across several regions of Europe. While the name is most famously associated with the nobility of Southern Italy, historical records confirm that members of the family were established in the Brittany region of France by 1725. During this period, the family likely moved as part of the broader patterns of migration and military service that defined the eighteenth century. Families often relocated to seek new opportunities in trade or government administration within the French provinces. By settling in Brittany, these individuals integrated into the local social fabric while maintaining the unique heritage associated with their surname. This movement highlights how a family name can travel across borders and adapt to new cultural environments over several generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cara
Derived from the Latin word for dear, beloved, or precious.
This name
CaraffaA topographic or occupational name referring to a person who is beloved or holds a dear status.
also spelled
Carafa
Karafa
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1725
Boutier, Jean, Les sociétés nobiliaires en Europe, 2005
Société d'histoire et d'archéologie de Bretagne, Mémoires de la Société d'histoire et d'archéologie de Bretagne, 1922
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
