A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Afflitto family of Italy.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Vairé-ondé d'azur et d'or.”
The Afflitto arms were recorded in Naples, c. 1775.
Naples was the largest city in Italy and the seat of a kingdom. Its noble houses were numerous, and the kingdom kept formal lists of the families entitled to arms, which is why so many appear in the records.
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.
Reigning in Italy when the Afflitto arms are first recorded.
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.
The family name Afflitto is deeply rooted in the history of southern Italy, particularly within the vibrant urban landscape of Naples. By the late eighteenth century, the family was well-established in the region, appearing in local records as early as 1775. During this era, Naples served as a major cultural and political hub under the Bourbon monarchy, and families like the Afflittos were often integrated into the city’s complex social and administrative life. The name itself carries a distinct linguistic character, reflecting the regional dialects and naming traditions that evolved in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius. As residents of a city that functioned as a gateway between Mediterranean trade and European intellectual movements, the early members of this family likely navigated a society defined by both deep-seated local traditions and the rapid changes of the Enlightenment period.
Latin verb meaning to strike down, cast down, or afflict.
