A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Caze family of France.
Reg. 3822 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. au chev., acc. en chef de deux croix ancrées et en p. d'une tour, le tout d'or; au chef d'arg., ch. d'une rose de gu. entre deux étoiles du même.”
BretagneBretagne, c. 1663
Where the Caze Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Caze arms are recorded
The Caze arms were recorded in Bretagne, c. 1663.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Caze 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 Bretagne.
Origin & History of the Caze Family in France
The family name Caze has deep roots in the historical region of Bretagne, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1663. The name is thought to have originated as a descriptive term or a nickname, likely derived from the Old Occitan word "casa," which refers to a house or a small farmstead. In the social structure of seventeenth-century France, such a name often identified a family by their connection to a specific plot of land or a modest dwelling. As the family grew, they became part of the local fabric of the Breton countryside, participating in the agricultural and community life that defined the province during the reign of King Louis XIV. Over time, the name evolved alongside the linguistic shifts of the region, eventually becoming a distinct identifier for generations of families who maintained their presence in western France.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Casa
Latin term referring to a small house, cottage, or hut.
This name
CazeA topographic name for someone who lived in or near a small house or dwelling.
also spelled
Cazes
Cazee
Caz
Kaz
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Morvan, Françoise, Les Bretons, 2005
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
