A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Carran family of France.
Reg. 2232 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“De sa. à trois croix pattées d'arg.”
BretagneBretagne, c. 1663
Where the Carran Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Carran arms are recorded
The Carran arms were recorded in Bretagne, c. 1663.
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 Carran 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 Bretagne.
Origin & History of the Carran Family in France
The family name Carran has deep roots in the historical region of Bretagne, France, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1663. During this period, the name was closely tied to the rural landscape of western France, a region defined by its distinct Celtic heritage and strong maritime traditions. Families living in Bretagne at this time often relied on local agriculture or coastal trade to sustain their households. The name likely evolved as a way to identify individuals based on their specific village or local landmarks, reflecting the close-knit nature of provincial life in the seventeenth century. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the region, contributing to the unique cultural identity that has defined the people of Bretagne for centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Carrus
Latin term referring to a four-wheeled wagon or cart.
This name
CarranAn occupational surname for a carter, wagoner, or someone who transported goods.
also spelled
Carrann
Carrane
Karan
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Finistère, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Gautier, Hervé, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1998
Tanguy, Bernard, Dictionnaire des noms de communes, trèves et paroisses du Finistère, 1990
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cross symbolChristian faith and service
cross symbolChristian faith and service
