A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cagan family of England.
Reg. 2096 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ar. seven lozenges gu. three, three, and one”
DevonshireDevonshire, c. 1620
Where the Cagan Arms Were Recorded
Devonshire
Map of England showing where the Cagan arms are recorded
The Cagan arms were recorded in Devonshire, c. 1620.
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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Cagan arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales 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 Devonshire.
Origin & History of the Cagan Family in England
The family name Cagan has deep roots in the rural landscapes of Devonshire, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1620. During the seventeenth century, Devonshire was a region defined by its bustling market towns and agricultural traditions, which likely shaped the daily lives of the early Cagan family. The name itself is thought to be a variation of older occupational or geographic surnames that evolved as families moved across the English countryside. Because literacy was not universal at the time, names were often recorded phonetically by local clerks, leading to slight changes in spelling over the decades. By settling in this region, the early Cagan ancestors became part of the long history of the West Country, contributing to the local community through farming, trade, and the development of the coastal villages that defined the area during the Stuart period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cagan
Derived from the Turkic title Khagan meaning supreme ruler or emperor.
This name
CaganAn occupational or status-based surname historically denoting a leader or one associated with royalty.
also spelled
Cagen
Cagene
Kagan
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Hoskins, W.G., Devon, 1954
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
The National Archives, Parish registers for the Diocese of Exeter, 1620
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lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
