A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Castille family of France.
Reg. 1758 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 une tour sommée de trois tourelles d'or.”
Francec. 1652
Where the Castille Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Castille arms are recorded
The Castille arms were recorded in France, c. 1652.
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 Castille 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 Castille Family in France
The family name Castille traces its roots to the historical landscape of France, with documented evidence placing members of the lineage in the region of Bretagne by the year 1652. The name itself is closely linked to the linguistic evolution of the Iberian Peninsula, as it is derived from the Old Spanish word for castle. During the seventeenth century, individuals bearing this name were often part of the shifting social fabric of western France, a time when families frequently moved between provinces due to trade, military service, or agricultural shifts. In Bretagne, the name became established within local parish registers, which served as the primary method for tracking births, marriages, and deaths during that era. By settling in this coastal region, early members of the family integrated into a distinct cultural environment while maintaining a surname that reflected a broader history of movement and connection across European borders.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
castellum
A Latin term referring to a small fort or castle.
This name
CastilleRefers to someone who lived near or worked at a fortified castle.
also spelled
Castilla
Castill
Kastil
Related arms
Castillavariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, series 1 E
Archives départementales du Morbihan, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, series 5 E
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
