A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Casso family of Italy.
Reg. 9796 · 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
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Map of Italy showing where the Casso arms are recorded
The Casso 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 Casso 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 Casso Family in Italy
The family name Casso has deep roots in the coastal region of Dalmatia, which is located along the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea. By 1775, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in this area, living among the vibrant maritime communities that connected the Balkans to the rest of the Mediterranean. During the eighteenth century, Dalmatia was a crossroads for trade and cultural exchange, often influenced by the nearby Venetian Republic. Families like the Cassos were likely involved in the local economy, which relied heavily on shipping, fishing, and agriculture in the rocky coastal landscape. Over time, the family name became tied to the unique traditions and linguistic history of the Dalmatian coast, reflecting the resilience of those who called this historic region home during a period of significant political change.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cassius
Latin name derived from the word for hollow or empty.
This name
CassoA patronymic or locative surname likely denoting a descendant of someone named Cassius.
also spelled
Cassie
Cassius
Cassia
Kashio
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Fisković, Cvito. Dalmatinski gradovi i njihovi umjetnici (1969)
State Archives in Zadar (Državni arhiv u Zadru), Fond Obiteljski arhiv (Family Archive Collection)
Novak, Grga. Prošlost Dalmacije (1944)
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