A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Castel family lines. Documented in 3 countries.
Reg. 0352 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
labelThe eldest son, during his father's life
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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'or à la bande de gu., ch. de trois aigles d'arg., posées dans le sens de la bande; au lambel de cinq pendants d'azur, br. sur le tout.”
Francec. 1274
Where the Castel Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Castel arms are recorded
The Castel arms were recorded in France, c. 1274.
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.
Philip III of France
Sovereign of the period
Philip III of France
1270–1285
Reigning in France when the Castel 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 Castel Family in France
The surname Castel emerged as a descriptive name in medieval France, typically identifying individuals who lived near or worked within a fortified structure. By the late thirteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the region of Bretagne. Historical records confirm that members of the Castel family were active in this area as early as 1274. During this period, the name was often associated with people who held administrative roles or maintained local strongholds for regional lords. As the family grew, they integrated into the social and economic fabric of the Breton countryside. Their early history reflects the broader movement of families who transitioned from serving in local fortifications to becoming recognized landowners within the feudal system of the Middle Ages.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 la fasce vivrée de gu. C.: un ange iss., hab. d'arg. (ou une tête et col de lion d'arg.), entre un vol aux armes de l'écu.”
GermanyPalatinat, c. 1765
Where the Castel Arms Were Recorded
Palatinat
Map of Germany showing where the Castel arms are recorded
The Castel arms were recorded in Palatinat, c. 1765.
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 Germany in this period.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in France when the Castel arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
In the Holy Roman Empire, coats of arms were often granted to individuals by the Emperor or his representatives. These arms were then passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants of the original holder. Younger branches of a family usually kept the same shield design without needing to change it, as the arms belonged to the entire lineage.
Granting authority
The Holy Roman Emperor held the sole power to grant new coats of arms throughout his vast imperial territories.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal imperial grant or by proving their noble status to the authorities.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Imperial Chancery registers, which began keeping formal records of such honors during the Middle Ages.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Germany.
Origin & History of the Castel Family in Germany
The family name Castel has deep roots in the Palatinate region of Germany, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1765. The name itself is likely derived from the Latin word castellum, which refers to a small fort or a fortified settlement. In the context of the German landscape, this suggests that the earliest ancestors may have lived near or worked within a castle or a protected village structure. During the eighteenth century, the Palatinate was a region defined by its agricultural output and its strategic position along the Rhine River. Families like the Castels were often part of the local community of farmers, craftsmen, or tradespeople who helped shape the social fabric of these rural towns. By settling in this area, the family became part of a long tradition of people who lived in the shadow of historical fortifications, eventually adopting the name as a way to identify their connection to the land and their place within the local society.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Quarterly, gu. and ar. in the first a tower of the second”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Castel Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Castel arms are recorded
The Castel arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried 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.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in France when the Castel arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
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.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Castel Family in England
The family name Castel has deep roots in England, where it functioned as a topographic surname for people who lived near a castle or a fortified manor. By the early seventeenth century, the family established a notable presence in the city of York. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Castel family were active participants in the local community during this period. At that time, York was a bustling center of trade and religious life, and the family likely integrated into the city’s growing merchant or artisan classes. As the name spread throughout the region, it evolved alongside the changing landscape of northern England, reflecting the family’s connection to the historic architecture and social structures of the era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
castellum
A Latin term referring to a small fort or castle.
This name
CastelA topographic name for someone who lived near or worked in a castle.
also spelled
Kastel
Castell
Kastell
Castle
Castil
Related arms
Douffeitsimilar arms
Castetvariant spelling
Castlevariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Poter, Arthur de la, Recherches sur la noblesse de Bretagne, 1840
Archives départementales d’Ille-et-Vilaine, Série E, Fonds de la seigneurie de Castel, 1274
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bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
labelThe eldest son, during his father's life
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
labelThe eldest son, during his father's life
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
