A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Castellan family of France.
Reg. 2147 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
portcullisProtection of the household, and the guarded gate
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Coupé: au 1 d'or à un casque grillé de sa., taré de front, panaché de gu.; au 2 d'azur à deux tours carrées, réunies par un mur crén., le tout d'arg., ouv. et maçonné de sa., soutenu d'une terrasse d'arg.”
Francec. 1663
Where the Castellan Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Castellan arms are recorded
The Castellan 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 Castellan 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 Castellan Family in France
The surname Castellan originates from the medieval title of a castellan, which was a person appointed to oversee and defend a castle or a fortified manor. During the feudal era, this role was vital for regional security, and the title eventually transitioned into a hereditary family name for those who held these positions. By the year 1663, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in the region of Bretagne in northwestern France. At that time, members of the family were likely integrated into the local social structure, serving as administrators or landholders within the rural landscape. Because the name is tied to a specific professional duty rather than a single ancestor, it emerged independently in various parts of France, though the Breton branch represents a significant historical footprint for the name in the seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
castellum
A Latin term referring to a fort, castle, or fortified place.
This name
CastellanAn occupational surname for a person who served as the keeper or governor of a castle.
also spelled
Castellane
Castellano
Castellani
Kastelan
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
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, 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
portcullisProtection of the household, and the guarded gate
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
portcullisProtection of the household, and the guarded gate
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
