A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Carton family of France.
Reg. 2184 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur au chev. d'or, acc. en chef de deux étoiles du même et en p. d'une tour d'arg.”
ForezForez, c. 1663
Where the Carton Arms Were Recorded
Forez
Map of France showing where the Carton arms are recorded
The Carton arms were recorded in Forez, c. 1663.
Forez was a small upland county in central France, thick with minor gentry holding modest estates. Its families were more numerous than wealthy, and even a small holding was enough for a shield of one's own.
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 Carton 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 Forez.
Origin & History of the Carton Family in France
The surname Carton has deep roots in the historical region of Forez, located in central France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were already established within this area. The name itself is thought to have originated as a descriptive term or a nickname, potentially derived from the Old French word for a card or a small piece of paper. In the social structure of the seventeenth century, families in Forez were often tied to the land or specific trades, and the Carton name likely identified individuals who were known for their local contributions or their distinct professional roles. As the family grew and moved throughout the region, they became part of the long-standing cultural fabric of the French countryside, leaving behind a legacy that spans several centuries of local history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Carta
Latin term for a leaf of paper, document, or map.
This name
CartonA topographic name for someone living near a carding workshop or a maker of wool cards.
also spelled
Karton
Cartone
Cartonn
Related arms
Touche (de la) - Angoumoissame arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Forestié, Édouard, Histoire de la ville de Montauban, 1885
Archives départementales de la Loire, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil de la commune de Forez, 1663
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
