A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Collas family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 7674 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“Coupé, de gu. à une fleur-de-lis d'or accostée de deux tours d'arg., sur sa. au lion d'or, soutenu d'une terrasse du même; à la fasce d'azur, br. sur le coupé. Cq. cour. C.: un cerf iss., le col percé d'une flèche.”
Francec. 1663
Where the Collas Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Collas arms are recorded
The Collas 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 Collas 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 Collas Family in France
The surname Collas has deep roots in the French region of Brittany, where records confirm the family was established by at least 1663. The name itself is a diminutive form of the name Nicolas, which was a very popular choice in medieval France due to the influence of Saint Nicholas. Over time, people began using these shortened versions as nicknames to distinguish between different individuals who shared the same first name in a small village. As these nicknames became permanent family identifiers, the spelling evolved into the version we recognize today. By the seventeenth century, families bearing this name were well-integrated into the local social fabric of Brittany, often working as farmers, artisans, or merchants who contributed to the distinct cultural identity of the province.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
The body that granted and recorded arms in Jersey in this period.
James II of England
Sovereign of the period
James II of England
1685–1688
Reigning in France when the Collas arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Jersey
Arms in the Channel Islands were granted and recorded by the College of Arms in London, under the same law of arms as England. They could be used by all legitimate descendants of the original owner: the eldest son kept the original design, and other family members used the same shield without registering a version of their own.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms for Jersey and the other Channel Islands since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Jersey.
Origin & History of the Collas Family in Jersey
The Collas family has deep roots in the island of Jersey, where they established a strong presence by the late seventeenth century. Historical records confirm that members of the family were settled on the island by 1688, likely integrated into the local community as farmers or maritime traders. During this period, Jersey functioned as a unique cultural bridge between France and England, and families like the Collas group often navigated both worlds through trade and language. As the family grew, they became closely tied to the parish system of the island, which served as the primary way to track births, marriages, and property ownership. By settling in the fertile parishes of the island, the early Collas ancestors helped shape the rural landscape and contributed to the distinct social fabric of Jersey life that persists to this day.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Nicholas
Derived from the Greek name Nikolaos meaning victory of the people.
This name
CollasA diminutive form of the name Nicholas, historically used as a patronymic surname.
also spelled
Colaz
Cola
Collace
Colles
Collasse
Related arms
Collacevariant spelling
Collesvariant spelling
Collessvariant spelling
Collisvariant spelling
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 d’Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
lionCourage, strength and royalty
