A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cassel family of Germany.
Reg. 2757 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti: au 1 d'azur à une tour sommée de trois tourelles d'arg., posée sur une terrasse de sin.; au 2 d'or à trois bandes de gu. C.: une femme iss., hab. de gu., les manches d'or, tenant de sa main sen. trois roses de gu., tigées de sin.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1765
Where the Cassel Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Cassel arms are recorded
The Cassel arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1765.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit in the registers.
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 Germany in this period.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Cassel arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
In the Holy Roman Empire, coats of arms were often granted to individuals by the Emperor or his representatives. These arms were then passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants of the original holder. Younger branches of a family usually kept the same shield design without needing to change it, as the arms belonged to the entire lineage.
Granting authority
The Holy Roman Emperor held the sole power to grant new coats of arms throughout his vast imperial territories.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal imperial grant or by proving their noble status to the authorities.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Imperial Chancery registers, which began keeping formal records of such honors during the Middle Ages.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Bavaria.
Origin & History of the Cassel Family in Germany
The family name Cassel has deep roots in the German-speaking regions of Europe, with historical records confirming the presence of family members in Bavaria by 1765. The name is often classified as a locational surname, which means it was likely adopted by individuals who moved from a specific town or region to settle elsewhere. In the German language, the name is closely linked to the city of Kassel in the state of Hesse. During the eighteenth century, families often moved across regional borders in search of better farmland or new trade opportunities within the Holy Roman Empire. By the time the family was documented in Bavaria, they were part of a mobile population that helped shape the local economy and social structure of the region. These early ancestors were likely laborers, craftsmen, or farmers who contributed to the growth of their local communities during a period of significant social change in Central Europe.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Castellum
Latin term for a fortified place, castle, or citadel.
This name
CasselRefers to a person who lived near or originated from a fortified town or castle.
also spelled
Kassel
Cassell
Kassell
Kasel
Related arms
Lustizsimilar arms
Oriola-Cortadasimilar arms
Portalissimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
