A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cause family of Belgium.
Reg. 9660 · Belgian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
swordJustice, and military honour
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à la bande de gu., bordée d'arg., ch. d'une épée du même, garnie d'or, et acc. de deux croiss. d'azur; à la bord. engr. de sa.; au chef du même, br. sur la bord. et ch. d'un lion léopardé d'arg., arm., lamp. et cour. d'or; le chef entouré d'une bord. engr. d'or. C.: un bras arm., brandissant une épée.”
BelgiumGand, c. 1737
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Map of Belgium showing where the Cause arms are recorded
The Cause arms were recorded in Gand, c. 1737.
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 Belgium in this period.
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
1711–1740
Reigning in Belgium when the Cause arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Belgium
In Belgium, a coat of arms is considered personal property that is passed down through the male line to legitimate descendants. Families often use the same shield design across generations to show their shared heritage. If a branch of the family wants to change the design, they must apply for an official update to their specific version of the arms.
Granting authority
The Conseil héraldique is the official body that regulates and approves all coats of arms in Belgium.
How they got arms
Families obtain their coats of arms through formal royal grants or by confirming their historical right to use existing designs.
Where arms were recorded
All approved coats of arms are officially recorded in the public registers of the Conseil héraldique since 1844.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Belgium.
Origin & History of the Cause Family in Belgium
The family name Cause has deep roots in the city of Ghent, which was known as Gand in French, during the early eighteenth century. Historical records confirm that members of the family were established residents there by 1737. At that time, Ghent was a major center for trade and textile production within the Austrian Netherlands. Families living in the city often identified themselves by their specific trades or the neighborhoods where they resided near the Leie and Scheldt rivers. As the name appears in local administrative documents from this period, it is likely that the family was integrated into the urban life of the city. They would have navigated the complex social and economic changes occurring in the region as Flanders transitioned through various periods of foreign rule. This early presence in such a prominent European city suggests that the family was part of the stable middle class that helped sustain the local economy and culture of the era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Causa
Latin term meaning cause, reason, motive, or legal case.
This name
CauseOccupational or descriptive name referring to a person involved in legal proceedings or a mediator.
also spelled
Kausse
Causs
Causses
Cos
Kos
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Stadsarchief Gent, Registers van de Burgerlijke Stand en Parochieregisters
Vandenbroeke, C., Sociale geschiedenis van het Vlaamse volk, 1984
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