A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Carrère family of France.
Reg. 4728 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“De gu. au lion d'or, ramp. contre un mont d'arg., mouv. du flanc dextre, le tout soutenu d'une terrasse de sin.; au chef d'azur, ch. d'un croiss. d'arg. entre deux étoiles d'or.”
FranceToulouse, c. 1663
Where the Carrère Arms Were Recorded
Toulouse
Map of France showing where the Carrère arms are recorded
The Carrère arms were recorded in Toulouse, c. 1663.
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 Carrère 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 Carrère Family in France
The family name Carrère originates from the Gascon and Occitan regions of southern France, where it functioned as a descriptive term for a person who lived near a main road or a street. The word itself comes from the Old Occitan term *carraria*, which refers to a carriage path or a public thoroughfare. By the mid-seventeenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the city of Toulouse. Records from 1663 confirm that members of the Carrère family were active participants in the urban life of this region, likely working as merchants or skilled tradespeople who benefited from the city’s status as a major center for trade and law. Over time, the name spread throughout southwestern France, reflecting the family’s deep roots in the local geography and their integration into the social fabric of the Languedoc province.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
carraria
A Latin term referring to a road or a carriage path.
This name
CarrèreA topographic name for someone who lived near a main road or a cart track.
also spelled
Carere
Carrery
Carair
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Nègre, Ernest, Toponymie générale de la France, 1990
Archives départementales de la Haute-Garonne, Série B: Cours et juridictions
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
