A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Kast family of France.
Reg. 7259 · French, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
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 bandes d'or; au chef d'azur, ch. d'une étoile d'or entre deux fleurs-de-lis du même.”
Francec. 1663
Where the Kast Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Kast arms are recorded
The Kast 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 Kast 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 Kast Family in France
The family name Kast has deep roots in the historical region of Bretagne, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1663. During the seventeenth century, Bretagne was a distinct province with its own unique customs and language, often functioning as a semi-independent territory within the French kingdom. Families like the Kast line were typically tied to the local agricultural or maritime economy, which defined daily life in the coastal villages of the region. Because surnames were often derived from nicknames, physical traits, or local landmarks, the name likely emerged as a way to identify specific branches of the family within their community. Over time, these early ancestors helped shape the cultural landscape of western France, leaving behind a legacy that persisted through generations of social and political change.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
castellum
Latin term for a fortified place, castle, or small fort.
This name
KastRefers to a person who lived near or worked at a castle or fortified settlement.
also spelled
Caste
Castess
Kast
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Finistère, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série E, État civil et registres paroissiaux
Galliou, Patrick, Histoire de la Bretagne et des Bretons, 2005
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