A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cay family of England.
Reg. 4899 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
labelThe eldest son, during his father's life
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
wolfReward from long service and hard work
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Quarterly, 1st and 4th, vert a rose ar. betw. two bars or; 2nd, az. a label of three points ar. over all a bend or; 3rd, ar. a chev. betw. three wolves' heads erased gu. and gorged with ducal coronets, for WOOLFF, of Bredlington”
NorthumberlandCharlton Hall · Northumberland, c. 1620
Where the Cay Arms Were Recorded
Northumberland
Map of England showing where the Cay arms are recorded
The Cay arms were recorded in Northumberland, c. 1620.
Northumberland was border country facing Scotland, raided and fought over for three hundred years. Families held their land in return for defending it, and a defending household carried a shield.
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 Cay 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 Northumberland.
Origin & History of the Cay Family in England
The family name Cay has deep roots in the northern regions of England, particularly within the county of Northumberland. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in this area, living among the rugged landscapes near the Scottish border. The name is often linked to the Old Norse word "ká," which refers to a jackdaw, suggesting that the original name may have been a descriptive nickname for an ancestor with a sharp or clever personality. Over the centuries, the family became integrated into the local community, often working as merchants or landowners in towns like Newcastle upon Tyne. Their presence in the North East reflects the broader history of families who thrived in the borderlands during a time of significant social and economic change in England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Caius
A Latin praenomen meaning to rejoice.
This name
CayA locative surname derived from a quay or wharf near a river.
also spelled
Cai
Caie
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Welford, Richard, History of Newcastle and Gateshead in the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Centuries, 1884
labelThe eldest son, during his father's life
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
wolfReward from long service and hard work
labelThe eldest son, during his father's life
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
wolfReward from long service and hard work
