Map of France showing where the Carman arms are recorded
The Carman arms were recorded in Orleanais, c. 1663.
Orleanais lay on the Loire around Orleans, close enough to Paris for court money to reach it. Officials and lawyers who did well bought estates there, and an estate brought a coat of arms 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.
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 Carman 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 Orleanais.
Origin & History of the Carman Family in France
The family name Carman carries a rich history that likely stems from the occupational roots of its earliest ancestors. In the medieval period, the name was often used to describe a person who worked as a carter or a driver of heavy transport vehicles. By the time members of the family were documented in the Orleanais region of France in 1663, the name had become a stable identifier for families living in that central province. These early settlers were part of a society deeply connected to the land and the local agricultural economy of the Loire Valley. As the family grew, they maintained their presence in this historic region, which served as a vital crossroads for trade and travel in seventeenth-century France. Over time, the name evolved alongside the family, reflecting the transition from a simple job description to a permanent hereditary surname that linked generations to their ancestral home.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Carminium
Latin term referring to a crimson or bright red pigment.
This name
CarmanAn occupational surname for a maker or seller of red dyes or fabrics.
also spelled
Carmaine
Karmain
Carmayn
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Albert Dauzat, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Archives Départementales du Loiret, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil de l'Orléanais, 1663
Marie-Thérèse Morlet, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
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chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
