A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cassius family of Italy.
Reg. 8676 · Italian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Coupé: au 1 de gu. au croiss. d'arg., acc. de deux étoiles du même, posées dans les cantons du chef; au 2 fascé d'arg. et de gu., de quatre pièces. Cq. cour. C.: une aigle iss. de sa., bq. et cour. d'or.”
DalmatiaDalmatia, c. 1775
Where the Cassius Arms Were Recorded
Map of Italy showing where the Cassius arms are recorded
The Cassius arms were recorded in Dalmatia, c. 1775.
Dalmatia was a string of walled towns along the Adriatic coast, each with its own leading families. Sea trade made them wealthy, and the towns kept lists of the houses entitled to 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 Italy in this period.
Alvise Giovanni Mocenigo
Sovereign of the period
Alvise Giovanni Mocenigo
1763–1778
Reigning in Italy when the Cassius arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Italy
In the Italian states, coats of arms were often used by noble families to show their status and history. These symbols were passed down through the generations to all legitimate male descendants. Younger branches of a family usually kept the original design but sometimes added small changes to distinguish their specific line from the main branch.
Granting authority
Various local rulers and city governments controlled the use of coats of arms across the different Italian states.
How they got arms
Families often assumed their own arms or received them as official grants from local lords, popes, or city councils.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in local city archives or private family books rather than in one single national register.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Dalmatia.
Origin & History of the Cassius Family in Italy
The name Cassius carries a deep historical resonance that stretches back to the ancient Roman Republic, where it was a prominent patrician nomen associated with influential political figures. While the name originated in Italy, branches of families bearing this name eventually migrated across the Adriatic Sea to the coastal regions of Dalmatia. By 1775, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in this area, which was then a significant crossroads for trade and cultural exchange between the Venetian Republic and the Ottoman Empire. Living in Dalmatian port cities, these early family members likely navigated a complex social landscape defined by maritime commerce and the shifting borders of the Mediterranean world. This geographic transition highlights how the family name moved from its classical roots into the diverse ethnic and linguistic environment of the Balkan coast during the late eighteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cassus
Latin term meaning empty, hollow, or vain.
This name
CassiusDerived from a Roman clan name, historically associated with emptiness or vanity.
also spelled
Cassie
Cassius
Cassia
Kashio
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bratulić, Josip. Povijest hrvatskoga jezika: Pregled i dokumenti (1995)
Katić, Lovre. Pregled povijesti grada Splita (1940)
State Archives in Zadar (Državni arhiv u Zadru), Fond: Obiteljski arhiv (Family Archives), 1750–1800
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
