Map of England showing where the Caine arms are recorded
The Caine arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
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 Caine 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 England.
Origin & History of the Caine Family in England
The surname Caine has deep roots in the British Isles, with early records placing members of the family in the historic city of York by 1620. The name is often linked to the Old Norse name Káin or the Gaelic name Cathán, which suggests that the family’s ancestors may have been influenced by the Viking settlements or the Celtic populations of northern England and the Isle of Man. In the seventeenth century, York served as a major hub for trade and religious life, providing a stable environment for families to establish themselves as artisans or merchants. As the family settled into the city, they became part of the local community during a time of great social and political change in England. Over the generations, the spelling of the name evolved as it was recorded by local clerks, eventually settling into the form used today.
Caine Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Cahán
An Irish Gaelic term meaning a small battle or warrior.
This name
CaineA locational surname derived from the town of Caen in Normandy, France.
also spelled
Kane
Kaine
Cayne
Caynes
Related arms
Canevariant spelling
Caynevariant spelling
Caynesvariant spelling
Kanevariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
York City Archives, York Parish Registers, 1620
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History, 1946
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