Map of France showing where the Capati arms are recorded
The Capati arms were recorded in Dauphine, c. 1663.
Dauphine lay in the mountains of south-eastern France, a country of small estates and scattered valleys. Its gentry were many and mostly modest, and even a small landholding was enough to justify 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 France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Capati 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 Dauphine.
Origin & History of the Capati Family in France
The family name Capati traces its historical roots to the Dauphiné region of southeastern France, where members of the family were documented as early as 1663. This mountainous area, situated between the Alps and the Rhône River, was a culturally distinct province known for its rugged terrain and independent spirit. During the seventeenth century, families in this region often lived in small, tight-knit rural communities that relied on agriculture and local trade. The name likely evolved as a local identifier, reflecting the specific geographic or social standing of the family within their parish. As the family established their presence in Dauphiné, they became part of the local social fabric during a time of significant transition in French provincial life. Their documented presence in the mid-1600s suggests that the Capati family was well-integrated into the administrative and religious life of the region, which was then undergoing careful record-keeping by local church and state officials.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Caput
Latin term meaning head or chief.
This name
CapatiDerived from a nickname for a person with a distinctive head or a leader.
also spelled
Chappat
Shapa
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de l'Isère, Collection de l'état civil de l'Ancien Régime, 1663
Borel d'Hauterive, André, Annuaire de la noblesse de France et des maisons souveraines de l'Europe, 1855
Chorier, Nicolas, Histoire générale de Dauphiné, 1661
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
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
