A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Catherine family of France.
Reg. 4451 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
wheelFortune's turning, and the carter's trade
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur à trois roues de Ste-Catherine d'or.”
BourgogneBourgogne, c. 1663
Where the Catherine Arms Were Recorded
Bourgogne
Map of France showing where the Catherine arms are recorded
The Catherine arms were recorded in Bourgogne, c. 1663.
Bourgogne was one of the richest parts of France, built on wine, wool and the roads that carried both. Wealth of that kind bought land, and land brought arms, so the region filled with armed families earlier than most of the country.
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 Catherine 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 Bourgogne.
Origin & History of the Catherine Family in France
The name Catherine originates from the Greek word katharos, which translates to pure. While it began as a given name honoring early saints, it eventually transitioned into a family name through the common practice of using a mother’s or matriarch’s name to identify a household. By 1663, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in the Bourgogne region of France. During this period, the people of Bourgogne were deeply connected to the land and the local agricultural economy. Living in this historic province, the family likely participated in the vibrant wine culture and local trade that defined the area during the seventeenth century. As the name spread through the region, it became a marker of the family’s long-standing roots in this central French territory.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Aikaterine
Derived from the Greek word for pure or clean.
This name
CatherineA classic French name signifying purity and innocence.
also spelled
Catharine
Katherine
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France. 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille. 1991
Archives départementales de la Côte-d'Or, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil de Bourgogne, 1663
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
wheelFortune's turning, and the carter's trade
wheelFortune's turning, and the carter's trade
