A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Castera family of France.
Reg. 9689 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
helmetWisdom and security in defence
swordJustice, and military honour
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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. à un casque d'arg., taré de profil, acc. en chef de deux épées d'arg., garnies d'or, passées en saut.”
LanguedocLanguedoc, c. 1663
Where the Castera Arms Were Recorded
Languedoc
Map of France showing where the Castera arms are recorded
The Castera arms were recorded in Languedoc, c. 1663.
Languedoc stretched across the south of France, a country of small towns, vineyards and old local families. Its gentry were numerous rather than grand, and a great many of them held arms even where their estates were modest.
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 Castera 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 Languedoc.
Origin & History of the Castera Family in France
The surname Castera originates from the Occitan language spoken in the historical Languedoc region of southern France. The name is derived from the word *castèl*, which refers to a castle or a fortified settlement. Families bearing this name were likely associated with the local landscape, perhaps living near a prominent fortress or serving as guardians of a defensive site. By 1663, records confirm that members of the Castera family were well-established in this area, living through a period of significant social and religious change in French history. During this time, the family name served as a marker of their geographic roots in the rugged terrain of the south, linking their identity to the ancient stone structures that defined the Languedoc countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
castrum
A Latin term referring to a fortified place or castle.
This name
CasteraA topographic name for someone who lived near a castle or a fortified settlement.
also spelled
Casteras
Casterae
Kastera
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 l'Hérault, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil de l'Hérault, 1663
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
helmetWisdom and security in defence
swordJustice, and military honour
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
helmetWisdom and security in defence
swordJustice, and military honour
