Map of Ireland showing where the Cates arms are recorded
The Cates arms were recorded in Ireland, c. 1645.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Dublin.
Dublin was the seat of government in Ireland and the place where grants were sought and recorded. Families with business at the castle or the courts settled nearby, and settling there put their arms on record.
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 Ireland in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Ireland when the Cates arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Ireland.
Origin & History of the Cates Family in Ireland
The history of the Cates family in Ireland is deeply connected to the turbulent political shifts of the seventeenth century. While the name likely originated from English or Norman roots, records confirm that members of the family were firmly established in Dublin by 1645. During this period, Dublin served as a central hub for administration and trade, attracting families who sought new opportunities amidst the ongoing conflicts of the Irish Confederate Wars. The presence of the Cates family in the city during the mid-1600s suggests they were part of a growing class of urban residents who navigated the complex social changes brought about by the Cromwellian era. As the century progressed, the family integrated into the local community, leaving behind traces of their lives in the city’s legal and property records. Their early residency in the capital highlights how families of that time moved across borders to build new lives in the shifting landscape of seventeenth-century Ireland.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
orlePreservation, and protection in battle
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Gu. a greyhound statant within an orle of roses ar”
RadnorWhitton · Radnor, c. 1647
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Map of Wales showing where the Cates arms are recorded
The Cates arms were recorded in Radnor, c. 1647.
Radnorshire was empty mid-Welsh hill country, the least populated county in Wales. Its few landed families held their ground for centuries, and long holding brought 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 Wales in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Ireland when the Cates arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Wales
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 Radnor.
Origin & History of the Cates Family in Wales
The history of the Cates family in Wales is deeply rooted in the rugged landscape of Radnorshire, where records confirm their presence by at least 1647. During this period, the family lived in a region defined by the transition between Welsh cultural traditions and the increasing influence of English administrative practices. The name itself likely evolved from older occupational or descriptive roots, reflecting the lives of people who worked the land or held local positions in the Welsh Marches. As residents of Radnor, the Cates family would have navigated a time of significant political upheaval, including the aftermath of the English Civil War, which deeply affected the border counties. By settling in this area, the family became part of the long history of migration and social change that shaped the Welsh borderlands, establishing a lineage that persisted through generations of rural life and community development.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cattus
A Latin term referring to a cat or a cunning person.
This name
CatesAn occupational or descriptive surname denoting a person with cat-like agility or sly characteristics.
also spelled
Coats
Cotes
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
National Archives of Ireland, Civil Survey of the County of Dublin, 1654–1656
Simington, Robert C., The Civil Survey, A.D. 1654–1656, 1945
Dublin City Archives, Dublin City Assembly Rolls, 1640–1650
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
cross symbolChristian faith and service
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
orlePreservation, and protection in battle
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
