Calles History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Spain
Ireland

Etymology of Calles

What does the name Calles mean?

The Calles surname is an old Norman name, derived from the French word "cale" which was a close fitting cap worn by women of the times.

Early Origins of the Calles family

The surname Calles was first found in Wiltshire, where a Swanus Calle is on record in the Rotuli Hundredorum (the Hundredorum Rolls) in 1275. In 1279, John Calle was recorded in Cambridgeshire, in that same collection of documents.

Early History of the Calles family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Calles research. Another 65 words (5 lines of text) covering the year 1307 is included under the topic Early Calles History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Calles Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Call, Calle, Calles, Caules and others.

Early Notables of the Calles family

More information is included under the topic Early Calles Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Calles Ranking

In the United States, the name Calles is the 12,672^nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Migration of the Calles family to Ireland

Some of the Calles family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 42 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Calles migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Calles or a variant listed above:

Calles Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Mateo Calles, who settled in Puerto Rico in 1803

Calles Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Amanda I. Calles, who arrived at Ellis Island in 1913

Contemporary Notables of the name Calles (post 1700) +

Elias Plutarco Calles (1877-1945), Mexican Political leader, President of Mexico from 1924 until 1928
Enrique Burgos Calles (b. 1965), professional baseball pitcher
Plutarco Elias Calles (1877-1945), Mexican politician

The Calles Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Grata manu
Motto Translation: With a grateful hand.

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/