Map of France showing where the Ciulla arms are recorded
The Ciulla arms were recorded in France, c. 1725.
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 XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Ciulla 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 Ciulla Family in France
The surname Ciulla is deeply rooted in the Mediterranean region, with its linguistic origins likely tracing back to the Italian word *ciulla*, which historically served as a term of endearment or a nickname for a young person. While the name is most strongly associated with Sicily, members of the family expanded their reach across Europe over the centuries. By 1725, records confirm that individuals bearing the name had established a presence in the region of Bretagne in northwestern France. This migration suggests that the family was mobile and likely involved in the trade networks or labor migrations that connected the Italian peninsula to the Atlantic coast during the early eighteenth century. As these ancestors settled into their new environment, they carried their cultural identity with them, blending their Mediterranean heritage into the local social fabric of the Breton countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Culleus
A small leather bag or pouch used in ancient Rome.
This name
CiullaDerived from a nickname for a person who made or carried leather pouches.
also spelled
Cilia
Seelya
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Morbihan, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Archives départementales du Finistère, Série B: Cours et juridictions
De Felice, Emidio, Dizionario dei cognomi italiani, 1978
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.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
