A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Abela family of Italy.
Reg. 2011 · Italian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur au chev. d'or, acc. de trois étoiles du même, rangées en chef.”
SicilySicily, c. 1775
Where the Abela Arms Were Recorded
Sicily
Map of Italy showing where the Abela arms are recorded
The Abela arms were recorded in Sicily, c. 1775.
Sicily was ruled in turn by Normans, Germans, French and Spanish, and each left landed families behind. The island kept formal lists of its noble houses, which is why so many Sicilian names carry recorded 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 Italy in this period.
Alvise Giovanni Mocenigo
Sovereign of the period
Alvise Giovanni Mocenigo
1763–1778
Reigning in Italy when the Abela 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 Sicily.
Origin & History of the Abela Family in Italy
The surname Abela has deep roots in the Mediterranean region, with a significant presence in Sicily by the late 18th century. Etymologists often link the name to Semitic origins, suggesting it may have evolved from terms related to a shepherd or a person who lived near a specific type of meadow. As families moved across the sea between Sicily and the Maltese islands, the name became firmly established within the local communities of the time. By 1775, records indicate that the Abela family was well-integrated into the social and economic fabric of Sicilian life. These early ancestors were likely involved in agriculture or trade, which were the primary ways of life for families living in the rural provinces during this period. The name reflects a long history of migration and cultural exchange that defined the central Mediterranean for centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Abel
Derived from the Hebrew word for breath or vapor.
This name
AbelaA patronymic surname indicating descent from an ancestor named Abel.
also spelled
Abella
Related arms
Abellavariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Cassar Pullicino, Joseph, Studies in Maltese Folklore, 1992
Wettinger, Godfrey, The Place-Names of the Maltese Islands, 2000
Archivio di Stato di Palermo, Stato Civile della Restaurazione
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
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
