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. à un mouton pass. au nat.”
A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Carder family of Spain.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“De gu. à un mouton pass. au nat.”

The Carder arms were recorded in Spain, c. 1722.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Castile.
Castile was the heart of Spain and the source of most of its noble families. Land won in the long wars against the Moors was granted out to fighting men, and a man granted land was granted arms along with it.
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 Spain, a coat of arms was considered a form of property that belonged to the entire family line. These arms were passed down from a father to all his children equally. Younger branches of the family usually kept the original design without needing to add any special marks to distinguish their specific line.
The family name Carder carries a rich history that traces back to the vibrant cultural landscape of Spain. By the year 1722, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in the region of Castile. The name itself is often linked to the professional activities of ancestors who worked in the textile industry. A "carder" was a skilled worker who prepared raw wool or flax fibers for spinning by using a special tool called a card. This occupation was essential to the local economy, as it turned raw materials into the high-quality fabrics that were traded throughout the Iberian Peninsula. Over time, as families moved and settled in new areas, the name became a permanent marker of this hardworking heritage. It serves as a reminder of a time when a person’s surname was often a direct reflection of their contribution to their community.
Latin term referring to a thistle or prickly plant.