Map of France showing where the Cast arms are recorded
The Cast arms were recorded in Dauphine, c. 1663.
Dauphine lay in the mountains of south-eastern France, a country of small estates and scattered valleys. Its gentry were many and mostly modest, and even a small landholding was enough to justify 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 France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Cast 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 Dauphine.
Origin & History of the Cast Family in France
The family name Cast has deep roots in the Dauphiné region of southeastern France, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1663. During this period, the Dauphiné was a mountainous area known for its rugged landscape and distinct local customs. Families living in this region often relied on agriculture or trade within the Alpine valleys. The name itself likely evolved from local dialects or topographic descriptions used to identify people based on where they lived or the work they performed. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the province, navigating the complex political and religious changes that defined seventeenth-century France. By maintaining their presence in this specific geographic area, the early members of the Cast family helped shape the local history of their community for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Castrum
Latin term meaning a fortified place, castle, or military camp.
This name
CastRefers to a person who lived near or worked at a fortified castle.
also spelled
Chastee
Chastes
Chast
Shast
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de l'Isère, Collection de l'Intendance de Dauphiné, 1663
Borel d'Hauterive, Annuaire de la noblesse de France et des maisons souveraines de l'Europe, 1855
Guy Allard, Dictionnaire historique, chronologique, géographique, généalogique, héraldique, juridique, politique et botanographique du Dauphiné, 1680
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
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
