A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Carre family lines. Documented in 3 countries.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'arg. à une roue de moulin de sa. C.: la roue, entre un vol à l'antique d'arg. et de sa.”
The Carre arms were recorded in Brabant, c. 1737.
Brabant lay at the heart of the Low Countries, where the trade routes met. Its towns were wealthy and its landowners many, and both kinds of family kept arms, which is why the region is so heavily represented.
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.
Reigning in Belgium when the Carre arms are first recorded.
In Belgium, a coat of arms is considered personal property that is passed down through the male line to legitimate descendants. Families often use the same shield design across generations to show their shared heritage. If a branch of the family wants to change the design, they must apply for an official update to their specific version of the arms.
The history of the Carre family in Belgium is deeply rooted in the historical region of Brabant, where records confirm their presence as early as 1737. During this period, the name was closely associated with the social and economic fabric of the Low Countries, a region defined by its bustling trade routes and complex administrative systems. Families like the Carres often lived in areas where local governance was transitioning under the influence of the Austrian Netherlands. Because the name is linked to the French word for square, it likely originated as a descriptive term for someone who lived near a town square or held a plot of land with distinct boundaries. By the mid-eighteenth century, members of the family were integrated into the local community, likely participating in the agricultural or merchant activities that sustained the Brabant economy. Their presence in these official documents from the 1730s suggests they were established residents who contributed to the stability of their local parishes and towns during a time of significant regional change.
palm treeVictory, and righteousness that flourishes
columnFortitude and constancyJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'or à un palmier de sin., accosté de deux colonnes du même et surm. d'un coeur enflammé de gu.”
The Carre 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.
Reigning in Belgium when the Carre arms are first recorded.
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 surname Carré finds its deep roots in the French language, where it literally translates to the word square. In the medieval period, this name was often used as a descriptive nickname for a person with a sturdy, broad, or stocky physical build. By the seventeenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the Orléanais region, a historically significant area located along the Loire River in north-central France. Records from 1663 confirm that members of the family were living and working within this fertile landscape, which was known for its proximity to the royal court and its importance in trade. During this era, families like the Carrés were often tied to the land or local crafts, contributing to the development of the rural economy in the heart of the French kingdom. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the region, reflecting the common naming patterns and migration trends that defined life in provincial France before the modern era.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
lionCourage, strength and royaltySir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Ar. on a bend sa. betw. three Cornish choughs ppr. as many leopards' faces of the field”
The Carre arms were recorded in Worcester, c. 1620.
Worcestershire was orchard and farming country with a scattering of old manors. Its gentry were middling rather than great, but a manor was a manor, and holding one was what brought 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 England in this period.
Reigning in Belgium when the Carre arms are first recorded.
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
The surname Carre has deep roots in the English landscape, often appearing in historical documents as a descriptive term for someone who lived near a marsh or a boggy area. By the early seventeenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the city of Worcester. Records from 1620 show members of the family living in this historic cathedral city, which was a vital center for trade and cloth manufacturing at the time. During this period, families like the Carres were often involved in the local merchant guilds or the agricultural life of the surrounding Severn Valley. Their presence in Worcester suggests they were part of the growing middle class that helped shape the social and economic character of English provincial towns before the upheaval of the Civil War. As the family settled into urban life, they became part of the long tradition of English surnames that reflect both the geography of the land and the history of the communities where they chose to build their homes.
Latin term meaning square or four-sided shape.
