CASS

The surname Cass is a family name of English and Scottish origin, first appearing in written records in the early twelfth century.

Its etymology traces back to the medieval given name “Cass,” a short form of the Latin name Cassius. The original Roman family name Cassius is believed to mean “empty or hollow,” a meaning that was retained when the name was adopted into English usage.

In medieval Britain the name also developed variations such as Cassie, Cassey and Cassy. These forms arose as a pet‑form of the popular female given name Cassandra, which itself is Greek in origin and translates as “snarer of men.” The adoption of this feminine form into surnames is typical of metronymic practices in northern England and Scotland, where a child’s surname may reflect the mother’s personal name rather than that of the father.

The earliest documented instance of the surname is found in the Registrum de Dunfermelyn of 1130, where a “Roger Cass” is recorded during the reign of King David I of Scotland (1124 – 1153). This attests to the name’s presence in Scotland almost at the time it entered written record.

Early references across the surviving administrative archives include a “William Casse” mentioned in the Essex county pipe rolls of 1200, a “Casse Rumpe” noted in the 1279 Hundred Rolls of Cambridge, and an “Elyzabeth Casye” whose marriage to William Kendricke is recorded at St Dionis Backchurch, London, on 27 August 1564.

The surname appears in a Scottish court context as well; a “John Cass” of Dalkeith was summoned before the Privy Council for Scotland in 1566, indicating that members of the Cass family were active in public affairs during the mid‑sixteenth century.

Throughout its history the Cass surname has been associated with the Christian religion, which was predominant in the British Isles during the medieval period. Its usage remains largely confined to England and Scotland, reflecting its origins and the regional patterns of surname development in those countries.

Typical given names associated with the Cass surname

Male

• David
• James
• John
• Michael
• Paul
• Peter
• Richard
• Robert
• Simon
• Stephen
• Thomas

Female

• Christine
• Deborah
• Elizabeth
• Helen
• Jean
• Joanne
• Julie
• Margaret
• Nicola
• Sarah
• Susan
• Valerie

Similar and related surnames

Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.

How to communicate the surname Cass in...

Braille

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Morse

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Surname type: From given name or forename

Origin: English

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: England

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: English

Famous people named Cass

• Henry Cass - Film director (1902 to 1989)
• Geoffrey Cass - Businessman
• Harriet Cass - Freelance broadcaster
• Ronald Cass - Writer (1923 to 2006)

Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.

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