Map of France showing where the Cannady arms are recorded
The Cannady arms were recorded in Roussillon, c. 1663.
Roussillon was Pyrenean country that belonged to Spain before it belonged to France. Its families held small estates under both crowns, and serving either one brought a shield.
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 Cannady 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 Roussillon.
Origin & History of the Cannady Family in France
The history of the Cannady family name is deeply rooted in the historical region of Roussillon, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1663. During this period, Roussillon was a unique area that had recently transitioned from Spanish to French control under the Treaty of the Pyrenees. Families living in this borderland often navigated a blend of Catalan and French cultural influences, which shaped the way their names were recorded and passed down through generations. As the family established their roots in this mountainous landscape near the Mediterranean coast, they likely engaged in the traditional agricultural and trade practices common to the region. Over time, the name evolved as the family moved and adapted to new linguistic environments, eventually spreading beyond these original borders to become the name recognized today.
Cannady Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Cana
A Latin term referring to a reed or cane plant.
This name
CannadyDerived from a topographic descriptor for someone living near a reed bed or marshland.
also spelled
Candi
Kandy
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Sahlins, Peter, Boundaries: The Making of France and Spain in the Pyrenees, 1989
Archives Départementales des Pyrénées-Orientales, Série E: Familles, seigneuries et généalogies
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
