A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Abate family of Italy.
Reg. 5370 · Italian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
hat or capDignity, and the honour of office
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à deux chev. d'azur: au chef de gu., ch. d'une mitre avec ses rubans d'arg., bordée d'or et fourrée de sin.”
Italyc. 1775
Where the Abate Arms Were Recorded
Venice
Map of Italy showing where the Abate arms are recorded
The Abate arms were recorded in Italy, c. 1775.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Venice.
Venice ran on trade, and its great families were merchants before they were anything else. The city kept a formal list of its noble houses, and a name on that list carried arms as a matter of record.
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 Italy in this period.
Alvise Giovanni Mocenigo
Sovereign of the period
Alvise Giovanni Mocenigo
1763–1778
Reigning in Italy when the Abate arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Italy
In the Italian states, coats of arms were often used by noble families to show their status and history. These symbols were passed down through the generations to all legitimate male descendants. Younger branches of a family usually kept the original design but sometimes added small changes to distinguish their specific line from the main branch.
Granting authority
Various local rulers and city governments controlled the use of coats of arms across the different Italian states.
How they got arms
Families often assumed their own arms or received them as official grants from local lords, popes, or city councils.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in local city archives or private family books rather than in one single national register.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Italy.
Origin & History of the Abate Family in Italy
The surname Abate originates from the Italian word for an abbot, which is a title given to the head of a monastery. In the medieval period, this name was often used as a nickname for someone who worked for a church, or perhaps for a person who acted in a formal or pious manner. By the time the family was documented in Venice in 1775, the name had become a well-established surname passed down through generations. During the eighteenth century, Venice was a bustling center of trade and culture, and families like the Abates were often integrated into the city’s complex social structure. While the name began as a reference to religious office, it eventually evolved into a common family identifier that reflected the deep historical ties between the Italian people and the traditions of the Catholic Church.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Abbas
Aramaic term meaning father or head of a religious community.
This name
AbateAn occupational surname for an abbot or a person who worked for an abbey.
also spelled
Abatte
Abati
Abatt
Related arms
Abativariant spelling
Abbatevariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
De Felice, Emidio. Dizionario dei cognomi italiani. 1978
Fucilla, Joseph G. Our Italian Surnames. 1949
Archivio di Stato di Venezia, Anagrafe di Venezia
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
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
hat or capDignity, and the honour of office
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
hat or capDignity, and the honour of office
