A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Caps family of England.
Reg. 2307 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
savages head affrontyAn enemy overcome
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Ar. a chev. sa. betw. three Moors' heads ppr”
CornwallCornwall, c. 1620
Where the Caps Arms Were Recorded
Cornwall
Map of England showing where the Caps arms are recorded
The Caps arms were recorded in Cornwall, c. 1620.
Cornwall was a county apart, with its own language and its own tight-knit gentry. Tin and the sea made money there, and families who made it bought land, which is what brought arms with it.
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 England when the Caps 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 Cornwall.
Origin & History of the Caps Family in England
The family name Caps is deeply rooted in the coastal landscape of Cornwall, where records confirm members of the family were established by the year 1620. During this period, the surname likely functioned as a descriptive occupational name, often linked to individuals who crafted or sold headwear. Living in the rugged southwestern tip of England, these early ancestors were part of a tight-knit maritime community that relied heavily on fishing, mining, and local trade. Because Cornwall was somewhat isolated from the rest of England by geography, families in the region often maintained distinct traditions and naming patterns for many generations. By the early seventeenth century, the Caps family had become a permanent part of the local social fabric, contributing to the unique cultural identity of the Cornish people during a time of significant change in British history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
cappa
A Latin term for a hooded cloak or cape.
This name
CapsAn occupational name for a maker or seller of caps or hooded garments.
also spelled
Cappe
Cape
Related arms
Capevariant spelling
Cappevariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Padel, O. J., A Popular Dictionary of Cornish Place-Names, 1988
Pool, P. A. S., The History of the Town and Borough of Penzance, 1974
Cornwall Archives, Parish Register Collection: Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1600–1650
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
savages head affrontyAn enemy overcome
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
savages head affrontyAn enemy overcome
