A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Carra family of France.
Reg. 4624 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
branchPeace, and new growth
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“d'or, ramée d'arg. S.: à dextre un léopard lionné de gu.; à sen. un cerf d'or, ramé d'arg. D.: PROBITAS SIBI IPSI SECURITAS.”
Francec. 1663
Where the Carra Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Carra arms are recorded
The Carra arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Carra 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 Carra Family in France
The family name Carra has deep roots in the Brittany region of France, where records confirm that members of the family were established by at least 1663. The name is believed to be topographic in origin, likely derived from the old Celtic or Breton word for a rocky place or a stone, which suggests that the earliest ancestors may have lived near a prominent natural landmark or a stony field. During the seventeenth century, families in this part of France often lived in close-knit rural communities where their identity was closely tied to the specific land they farmed or managed. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric of the province, contributing to the agricultural and administrative life of the region. Over time, the name evolved alongside the local dialects, reflecting the unique cultural history of the Breton people who maintained strong traditions and a distinct regional identity throughout the early modern period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
carrus
Latin term for a wheeled vehicle or cart.
This name
CarraAn occupational surname for a carter, wagoner, or someone who transported goods.
also spelled
Carrah
Carrae
Kara
Related arms
Caravariant spelling
Carrevariant spelling
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
Poterie, Michel, Histoire de la Bretagne et des Bretons, 1977
Tanguy, Bernard, Dictionnaire des noms de communes, trèves et paroisses du Finistère, 1990
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
branchPeace, and new growth
branchPeace, and new growth
