A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cars family of France.
Reg. 5609 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Tranché d'arg. sur azur; à six boules de l'un à l'autre, rangées en orle.”
FlandreFlandre, c. 1663
Where the Cars Arms Were Recorded
Flandre
Map of France showing where the Cars arms are recorded
The Cars arms were recorded in Flandre, c. 1663.
Flandre grew rich on cloth, and its towns were among the busiest in Europe. Merchant families bought land with their profits and took arms to go with it, so trade put as many names in the registers here as land did.
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 Cars 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 Flandre.
Origin & History of the Cars Family in France
The family name Cars traces its roots back to the seventeenth century in the region of Flandre, which is located in modern-day Belgium and northern France. Historical records confirm that members of this family were established in the area by 1663. During this period, the name likely functioned as a descriptive identifier or a localized surname tied to the specific geography of the Low Countries. Families in this region often lived in close-knit agricultural or trade-based communities, where names were frequently adapted from local dialects or occupational roles. By settling in Flandre, the early members of the Cars family became part of a complex social landscape shaped by centuries of regional trade and cultural exchange. Their presence in the official documentation of the mid-1600s suggests they were integrated into the local parish or civil systems that tracked residents during this era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Carrus
Latin term for a wheeled vehicle or cart.
This name
CarsAn occupational surname for a carter, wagoner, or someone who transported goods.
also spelled
Kaers
Cars
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives de l'État en Belgique, Registres paroissiaux de la Flandre occidentale, 1663
De Smet, Jos, De bevolking van de kasselrij Ieper in de 17de eeuw, 1954
Vandenbroeke, Chris, Sociale geschiedenis van het Vlaamse volk, 1981
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
