A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Caio family of England.
Reg. 8881 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Sa. . . A chev. or, betw. three castles ar. each having a demi lion issuant of the second”
Englandc. 1456
Where the Caio Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Caio arms are recorded
The Caio arms were recorded in England, c. 1456.
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.
Henry VI of England
Sovereign of the period
Henry VI of England
1422–1461
Reigning in England when the Caio 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 Caio Family in England
The history of the Caio family name is deeply rooted in the medieval landscape of Northern England, with documented evidence placing members of the family in the city of York as early as 1456. During the fifteenth century, York served as a major center for trade and religious life, and families living within the city walls were often involved in the bustling merchant guilds or local craft industries. The name itself likely evolved from regional dialects or linguistic shifts common in the North Riding of Yorkshire during the late Middle Ages. As the family established their presence in this historic urban environment, they became part of the social fabric of a city that was then the second most important in England. By maintaining a consistent presence in local records, the early members of the Caio family helped define their place within the complex administrative and economic systems of the fifteenth-century English North.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Caius
A Latin praenomen derived from the verb gaudere meaning to rejoice.
This name
CaioA variant of the Roman name meaning to be happy or to rejoice.
also spelled
Caie
Cayo
Kayo
Caiow
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
York Minster Archives, Fabric Rolls of York Minster (1456)
Raine, James, The Fabric Rolls of York Minster, 1859
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
