Map of France showing where the Cetina arms are recorded
The Cetina arms were recorded in Lorraine, c. 1611.
Lorraine sat on the border between France and the German lands, and border country bred soldiers. Families here held small estates and served in arms, and a fighting man was exactly the sort who carried a shield of his own.
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 XIII of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIII of France
1610–1617
Reigning in France when the Cetina 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 Lorraine.
Origin & History of the Cetina Family in France
The family name Cetina carries a history deeply rooted in the borderlands of Europe, with documented evidence placing members of the family in the Lorraine region by 1611. During this period, Lorraine was a crossroads of culture and trade, situated between the French and German spheres of influence. The name itself likely evolved from geographic origins or local linguistic patterns common to the area during the early seventeenth century. Families living in this region often experienced significant shifts in their daily lives due to the frequent political changes and the ongoing influence of the Holy Roman Empire. By establishing themselves in Lorraine during the early 1600s, the Cetina family became part of a complex social fabric that defined the transition from the Renaissance to the early modern era. This early presence suggests that the family was likely involved in the agricultural or merchant activities that sustained the local villages of the time.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cetus
Latin for whale or a large sea monster.
This name
CetinaDerived from a topographic reference to a place near a whale-shaped hill or coastal feature.
also spelled
Koetan
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de Meurthe-et-Moselle, Registres paroissiaux de Lorraine (1600-1650)
Cabourdin, Guy, Terres et hommes en Lorraine 1550-1635, 1977
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
