Map of France showing where the Caisley arms are recorded
The Caisley arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 Caisley 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 France.
Origin & History of the Caisley Family in France
The family name Caisley possesses deep roots tied to the historical region of Bretagne in northwestern France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were firmly established within this coastal territory. During the seventeenth century, Bretagne was a distinct province with its own unique cultural identity and social structure. Families living in this area often relied on the land or the sea for their livelihood, and they were frequently influenced by the complex political shifts occurring between the French crown and local regional authorities. As the family grew, their presence in this landscape suggests they were integrated into the local community life of the era. Over time, the name likely evolved in spelling as family members moved across different regions, eventually carrying their ancestral history into new territories.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cais
Derived from the Latin name Caius meaning to rejoice.
This name
CaisleyA locational or patronymic surname likely signifying a descendant of someone named Caius.
also spelled
Casly
Caslie
Caslay
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B (Cours et juridictions)
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
Pocquet du Haut-Jussé, Barthélemy, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1937
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
