A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Causey family of England.
Reg. 3857 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Ar. a griffin segreant sa”
EnglandHyngham, c. 1620
Where the Causey Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Causey arms are recorded
The Causey arms were recorded in Hyngham, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried 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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Causey arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
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 England.
Origin & History of the Causey Family in England
The surname Causey is believed to have originated in England as a topographical name, which was a common way to identify people based on the land where they lived. The name is derived from the Old French word "caucie," meaning a causeway or a raised path across wet or marshy ground. Families who lived near such a structure often adopted this word as their identifier. By the year 1620, members of the Causey family were already established in York, England. These early ancestors were part of a society that relied heavily on local geography to distinguish one household from another. As the family grew and moved, the name traveled with them, eventually crossing the Atlantic to the American colonies, where it became firmly rooted in the history of the early settlers.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
calceus
Latin term meaning a shoe or a covering for the foot.
This name
CauseyA topographical name for someone who lived near a paved road or a causeway.
also spelled
Causie
Causy
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
The National Archives (UK), Yorkshire Parish Registers, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
