A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Carnegie family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 5041 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à l'aigle d'azur, bq., languée et m. de gu., la poitrine ch. d'une coupe couverte d'or. C.: une main de carn., posée en pal, tenant un foudre au nat., ailé d'or. S.: deux bouledogues d'arg., coll. de gu. D.: DREAD GOD.”
Francec. 1616
Where the Carnegie Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Carnegie arms are recorded
The Carnegie arms were recorded in France, c. 1616.
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 XIII of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIII of France
1610–1617
Reigning in France when the Carnegie 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 Carnegie Family in France
The roots of the Carnegie name in France are tied to the movement of Scottish families across the sea during the early seventeenth century. By 1616, records confirm that members of the family had established a presence in the region of Bretagne. This period was marked by strong political and military alliances between the French crown and the Scottish nobility, which encouraged families to relocate for trade, diplomacy, and military service. Settling in Bretagne allowed these individuals to integrate into local society while maintaining their distinct cultural identity. Over time, the family name adapted to the linguistic patterns of the region, reflecting the blending of Scottish heritage with the coastal life of western France. This migration highlights how families of that era navigated the shifting borders and political landscapes of Europe to seek new opportunities.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Or, an eagle displ. az. beaked and membered gu. holding in the dexter talon a thistle of the last”
ForfarBallindarg · Forfar, c. 1740
Where the Carnegie Arms Were Recorded
Forfar
Map of Scotland showing where the Carnegie arms are recorded
The Carnegie arms were recorded in Forfar, c. 1740.
Forfar, now called Angus, was farming country on Scotland's east coast between the hills and the sea. Its landed families were long-settled, and long settlement is exactly what fills a register of arms.
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 Scotland in this period.
George II of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George II of Great Britain
1727–1760
Reigning in France when the Carnegie arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Scotland
Scottish heraldry is unique because it treats a coat of arms as a piece of personal property protected by law. Only one person can own a specific design at any given time. When a family grows, the head keeps the original shield while other relatives must apply for their own distinct version with slight changes to prove their specific identity.
Granting authority
The Court of the Lord Lyon acts as the official body that regulates and controls all heraldic matters throughout Scotland.
How they got arms
Individuals obtain a legal right to their arms through a formal petition process that confirms their identity and family connection.
Where arms were recorded
All valid coats of arms are officially entered into the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings starting from 1672.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Forfar.
Origin & History of the Carnegie Family in Scotland
The name Carnegie originates from a place in the county of Angus in eastern Scotland. It is a locational surname, meaning the family took its name from the lands of Carnegie near the town of Panbride. By the early eighteenth century, the family had established a firm presence in the nearby town of Forfar. During this period, Forfar served as a busy center for trade and local government, which allowed families like the Carnegies to integrate into the professional life of the region. As they moved through the eighteenth century, members of the family were often involved in the local agricultural and civic activities that defined life in the Scottish Lowlands. Their history reflects the broader patterns of Scottish families who transitioned from being associated with specific parcels of land to becoming established members of growing market towns.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Caer
A Celtic term referring to a fortified place or castle.
This name
CarnegieDerived from a Scottish place name meaning fort at the gap or fortress.
also spelled
Karnegie
Carnegy
Karnegee
Carnegey
Related arms
Carnegysimilar arms
De Balinhardsimilar arms
Baronrecorded with Carnegie, same area
Brucerecorded with Carnegie, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives Départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B: Cours et juridictions
Michel, Francisque, Les Écossais en France, les Français en Écosse, 1862
Stuart, John, The Miscellany of the Spalding Club, 1841
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eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
