Map of England showing where the Cease arms are recorded
The Cease arms were recorded in England, 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 Cease 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 Cease Family in England
The family name Cease is rooted in the linguistic shifts of early modern England, where surnames often evolved from nicknames or descriptions of a person's character. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the family were established in the historic city of York. During this period, York was a bustling center of trade and religious life, and families living there were frequently involved in the local craft guilds or the merchant community. The name itself likely originated as a variation of descriptive terms used in Middle English, reflecting the social environment of northern England at the time. As these early ancestors navigated the political and economic changes of the seventeenth century, they helped shape the local identity of the region. Their presence in York suggests that the family was part of the stable middle class that supported the city's growth during the transition into the Stuart era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cessare
Latin verb meaning to stop, cease, or be idle.
This name
CeaseAn occupational or descriptive surname likely referring to someone who was inactive or a tenant.
also spelled
Caise
Cayse
Kase
Cass
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
York City Archives, York Freemen’s Register, 1272–1759
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
