Show ContentsCassen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The vast movement of people that followed the Norman Conquest of England in 1066 brought the Cassen family name to the British Isles. Cassen comes from de Cassagne, the name of the House of the Lords of Montagu, who were a family of distinction from the province of Bearne, France. [1]

Early Origins of the Cassen family

The surname Cassen was first found in Hampshire, where a Ralph Cattessone was on record in 1115. Other early records include Robert Casseson in 1327 in the Subsidy Rolls of Cambridgeshire, John Catessone, on record in the Feet of Fines of Suffolk in 1366, and William Casson in the Register of the Freemen of the City of York in 1601. [2]

Early History of the Cassen family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cassen research. Another 62 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1789, 1815, 1820, 1821, 1829 and 1841 are included under the topic Early Cassen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cassen Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Cassan, Cassane, Casson and others.

Early Notables of the Cassen family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Stephen Hyde Cassan (1789-1841), English ecclesiastical biographer, son of Stephen Cassan, barrister, by his wife Sarah, daughter of Charles Mears, born in 1789 at Calcutta, where his father was sheriff. He was educated at Magdalen Hall, Oxford, and took his B.A. degree on 14 Jan. 1815. He received deacon's orders on 26 March following, and was ordained priest the next year. While curate of Frome...
Another 72 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cassen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Cassen family to Ireland

Some of the Cassen family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Cassen migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Cassen or a variant listed above:

Cassen Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • George Cassen, who arrived in Jamestown, Virginia aboard the ship "Discovery" in 1607, he died in 1607
  • William Cassen, labourer who arrived in Jamestown, Virginia aboard the ship "Discovery" in 1607
  • Thomas Cassen, who arrived in Jamestown, Virginia aboard the ship "Discovery" in 1607
  • Thomas Cassen, who landed in Virginia in 1643 [3]
  • John Cassen, who arrived in Virginia in 1652 [3]
Cassen Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Michel Cassen, who arrived in New York in 1830
  • Mr. Cassen, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 [3]
  • Mrs. Cassen, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 [3]
  • P Cassen, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 [3]


The Cassen Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Prosequor alis
Motto Translation: I follow with speed.


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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