A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cavin family of France.
Reg. 2282 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
grapesPlenty, and the labour of the vine
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Ec., de gu. à une grappe de raisins au nat., et d'azur à une tour d'arg., à la croix d'or, br. sur l'écartelé. C.: une croisette pattée, entre quatre pl. d'aut.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Cavin Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Cavin arms are recorded
The Cavin arms were recorded in France, c. 1725.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Cavin 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 France.
Origin & History of the Cavin Family in France
The family name Cavin has deep roots in the Brittany region of France, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1725. The name likely originated as a descriptive term or a nickname based on the local Breton or Gallo dialects spoken in the area at the time. In many cases, names like this were tied to a person’s specific trade, a physical trait, or the geographic features of the land they farmed. During the eighteenth century, families in Brittany were often closely tied to their local parishes, where life revolved around agriculture and maritime trade along the rugged coast. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the region, contributing to the unique cultural identity that defines the people of Brittany. By tracing these early ancestors, we see a family that was firmly established in the rural landscape of western France long before the modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cavus
Latin term meaning hollow, concave, or a cavity.
This name
CavinA topographic name for someone who lived in a hollow or a valley.
also spelled
Kavin
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Morbihan, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Deshayes, Albert, Dictionnaire des noms de famille bretons, 1995
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
grapesPlenty, and the labour of the vine
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
cross symbolChristian faith and service
grapesPlenty, and the labour of the vine
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
