A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cayla family of France.
Reg. 0538 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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'azur à la fasce d'or, acc. en chef de trois roses rangées d'arg. et en p. d'un croiss. du même.”
Francec. 1663
Where the Cayla Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Cayla arms are recorded
The Cayla 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 Cayla 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 Cayla Family in France
The family name Cayla traces its roots to the historic region of Bretagne in northwestern France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were already established within this rugged landscape. During the seventeenth century, Bretagne was a province defined by its distinct Celtic heritage and its strong reliance on maritime trade and agriculture. Families living in this area often took names derived from the local geography or specific landmarks near their homes. The name Cayla likely originated from the Occitan word *cayla*, which refers to a rocky outcrop or a stony place. This suggests that the earliest ancestors of the family were likely people who lived near prominent stone formations or on elevated, rocky terrain. As they settled into the social fabric of Bretagne, the family became part of the local community, living through an era of significant cultural transition in French history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Chastel
Old French term for a castle or fortified place.
This name
CaylaA habitational name for someone who lived near or worked at a castle.
also spelled
Cayla-Montblanc
Kala du de Monblan
Cayla
Montblanc
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
Archives Départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine. Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil. 1663
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
