A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cann family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 9047 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur treillissé d'arg.; à la fasce de gu., ch. de trois têtes de léopard d'or, br. sur le tout. Cq. timbré d'une couronne murale d'or. C.: un panache de cinq pl. d'aut. d'arg.”
GloucestershireGloucestershire, c. 1662
Where the Cann Arms Were Recorded
Map of France showing where the Cann arms are recorded
The Cann arms were recorded in Gloucestershire, c. 1662.
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 Cann 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 Gloucestershire.
Origin & History of the Cann Family in France
The family name Cann is widely believed to have roots in France before it became established in England. Many historians suggest that the name originated from the Old French word "canne," which referred to a reed or a cane. It is possible that the name was first used as a descriptive nickname for a person who was tall and thin like a reed, or perhaps for someone who lived near a patch of reeds. When families migrated from France to England, often during periods of political or religious upheaval, their names frequently shifted in spelling and pronunciation to fit the English language. By the time the family was firmly recorded in Gloucestershire in 1662, the name had already been adapted into its current form. These early members of the family were likely part of a broader wave of migration that brought French cultural influences and surnames across the English Channel, where they eventually integrated into the local communities of the English countryside.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Gu. a cross engr. or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Cann Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Cann arms are recorded
The Cann 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 France when the Cann 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 Cann Family in England
The surname Cann has deep roots in the English landscape, with early records placing members of the family in the historic city of York by the year 1620. During this period, the name was often associated with families living in the northern and western regions of England. Historians believe the name may have originated as a descriptive nickname or a reference to a specific trade, as many surnames from this era were derived from the daily lives and occupations of common people. By the early 17th century, families bearing this name were becoming established in local parish registers, which served as the primary way to track births, marriages, and deaths in English towns. As the family grew, they integrated into the social and economic fabric of their communities, moving from local tradespeople to participants in the expanding civic life of cities like York. This transition reflects the broader movement of English families during the 1600s as they sought stability and opportunity in a rapidly changing society.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Canne
Old French term for a reed or a measuring rod.
This name
CannAn occupational name for a maker of reeds or a person who measured land.
also spelled
Canne
Kanne
Cane
Kan
Related arms
Canevariant spelling
Kannevariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
Cottle, Basil, The Penguin Dictionary of Surnames, 1967
The National Archives (UK), Hearth Tax Records, Gloucestershire, 1662
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
cross symbolChristian faith and service
