Map of France showing where the Caffey arms are recorded
The Caffey arms were recorded in Savoy, c. 1663.
Savoy was Alpine country ruled by its own house for eight hundred years. Families there held land and served in arms, and both service and landholding brought recorded shields with them.
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 Caffey 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 Savoy.
Origin & History of the Caffey Family in France
The history of the Caffey family name is deeply rooted in the mountainous region of Savoy, where records confirm the family was established by 1663. During this period, Savoy served as a vital crossroads between French and Italian cultures, which influenced the development of local surnames and family identities. Families living in this alpine territory often relied on agriculture and trade within the Duchy of Savoy to sustain their communities. The name likely evolved from regional dialects spoken in the valleys, reflecting the linguistic blend of the area. As these early ancestors navigated the social and political shifts of the seventeenth century, they helped shape the local heritage of the region. By maintaining their presence in these rugged landscapes, the family became a part of the long history of the Savoyard people.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Caffier
Derived from the Old French word for a coffee merchant or trader.
This name
CaffeyAn occupational surname historically denoting an individual involved in the trade or preparation of coffee.
also spelled
Kaffe
Kafe
Caffay
Coffee
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Savoie, État civil et registres paroissiaux
Benoit, Sylvain, Histoire de la Savoie, 2010
Guichonnet, Paul, Nouvelle histoire de la Savoie, 1996
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
savages head affrontyAn enemy overcome
swordJustice, and military honour
cross symbolChristian faith and service
savages head affrontyAn enemy overcome
swordJustice, and military honour
