A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Carreau family of France.
Reg. 8665 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 un carreau de...., cant. de quatre arbres de sin.; au chef d'azur, ch. à dextre d'un soleil d'or et à sen. d'un croiss. d'arg.”
Francec. 1663
Where the Carreau Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Carreau arms are recorded
The Carreau 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 Carreau 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 Carreau Family in France
The surname Carreau originates from the French word for a square or a tile, which suggests that the earliest members of the family were likely identified by their occupation or their place of residence. In the context of medieval France, such names were often given to people who worked as stone masons, tile makers, or those who lived near a distinctively shaped plot of land. By the year 1663, historical records confirm that the Carreau family was well-established in the region of Bretagne. During this period, families in this coastal province were often deeply connected to the local agricultural or maritime economy. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of northwestern France, participating in the daily life and community development of their parishes long before the modern era of record-keeping became standardized.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
quadrus
Latin term meaning square or four-sided shape.
This name
CarreauA topographic name for someone who lived near a square or a maker of square tiles.
also spelled
Carro
Carreaux
Karo
Related arms
Carrovariant spelling
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
Marie-Thérèse Morlet, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
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
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
