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 sa. au lion d'arg., arm. et lamp. de gu.”
A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Carino family of France.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“De sa. au lion d'arg., arm. et lamp. de gu.”

The Carino arms were recorded in Franche-Comte, c. 1663.
Franche-Comte sat between France and the Empire and changed hands more than once. Border families held their land under arms and expected to defend it, so a shield was a practical thing rather than an ornament.
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 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.
The family name Carino has deep roots in the Franche-Comté region of eastern France, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1663. During the seventeenth century, this area was a unique borderland that transitioned from Spanish control to the French crown. Families living in this mountainous landscape often worked as skilled laborers, farmers, or local officials who helped maintain the stability of their small mountain communities. The name itself likely evolved from local dialects and linguistic influences common to the Jura mountains and the surrounding valleys. Because the region served as a crossroads for travelers and merchants moving between Switzerland and France, the Carino family likely interacted with diverse groups of people, which helped shape their identity and social standing within the province. Over time, these early ancestors established a lasting presence in the region, leaving behind a legacy tied to the rugged terrain and the changing political borders of their home.
Latin term meaning dear, beloved, or precious.
