A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cassam family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 3469 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
ermineDignity and rank
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'azur à un lévrier pass. d'arg.; au chef d'herm.; aux 2 et 3 d'azur à trois fasces d'arg.; au chef d'or, ch. de trois mouch. d'herm. de sa.”
FranceToulouse, c. 1663
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of France showing where the Cassam arms are recorded
The Cassam arms were recorded in Toulouse, c. 1663.
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 Cassam 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 France.
Origin & History of the Cassam Family in France
The history of the Cassam family in France is deeply rooted in the vibrant cultural landscape of the Languedoc region. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well-established residents of Toulouse, a city known at the time as a major center for trade, law, and religious scholarship. During the seventeenth century, Toulouse was undergoing significant social changes as it balanced its traditional role as a regional capital with the shifting political tides of the French monarchy. Families like the Cassams living in this urban environment likely participated in the local guild systems or the legal professions that defined the city’s middle class. Because Toulouse served as a gateway between the Mediterranean coast and the rest of France, the family name existed within a crossroads of diverse linguistic and economic influences. This early presence in such a prominent administrative hub suggests that the family was integrated into the civic life of southern France during a period of great architectural and intellectual growth.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
oakGreat age, strength and steadfastness
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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. three oaks eradicated, two and one, vert”
WiltsMere Vicarage · Wilts, c. 1830
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of England showing where the Cassam arms are recorded
The Cassam arms were recorded in Wilts, c. 1830.
Wiltshire was sheep country, and wool made money steadily for hundreds of years. Families who made it bought manors on the downs, and holding a manor was the usual reason to take 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.
George IV of the United Kingdom
Sovereign of the period
George IV of the United Kingdom
1820–1830
Reigning in France when the Cassam 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 Wilts.
Origin & History of the Cassam Family in England
The family name Cassam appears to have established roots in the English county of Wiltshire by the early nineteenth century. During this period, Wiltshire was a region defined by its agricultural landscape and the traditional wool trade, which likely shaped the daily lives of early family members. The name itself is thought to be a variation of older surnames derived from specific locations or ancestral occupations, reflecting the way names evolved as families moved between rural parishes. By the 1830s, records indicate that the family was settled within this region, participating in the local community during a time of significant social and economic change in England. As the Industrial Revolution began to influence even quiet rural counties, families like the Cassams often navigated the transition from traditional village life toward the more mobile society of the Victorian era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cassius
Latin name derived from the word for hollow or empty.
This name
CassamA French patronymic or locative surname likely denoting a descendant of someone named Cassius.
also spelled
Cassand
Cassanet
Cassain
Kasan
Cassen
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Haute-Garonne, Série B: Cours et juridictions
Archives municipales de Toulouse, Série GG: État civil et registres paroissiaux
Wolff, Philippe, Histoire de Toulouse, 1974
Le Roy Ladurie, Emmanuel, Histoire du Languedoc, 1982
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
ermineDignity and rank
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
ermineDignity and rank
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
oakGreat age, strength and steadfastness
