Map of England showing where the Case arms are recorded
The Case 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 England when the Case 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 Case Family in England
The surname Case is primarily of English origin and often functions as a topographic name. In the Middle Ages, it was used to describe someone who lived near a small house or a hut, as the name likely derives from the Old French word "cas" or the Latin "casa." By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Case family were well-established in the historic city of York. During this period, York was a major center for trade and religious life in Northern England. Families living there were often involved in the city's vibrant guild system or local commerce. The presence of the Case family in York during the early seventeenth century suggests they were part of the steady growth of the urban middle class that helped shape the city’s social and economic landscape during the transition into the Stuart era.
Case Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
cassa
Latin term meaning a box, chest, or hollow container.
This name
CaseA person who lived near a box-like structure or worked as a maker of chests.
also spelled
Caise
Cayse
Kase
Cass
Related arms
Cassvariant spelling
Couperrecorded with Case, same area
Cupperrecorded with Case, same area
Gerardrecorded with Case, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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