A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Agnello family of Italy.
Reg. 9757 · Italian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lambGentleness, patience and faith
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 à quatre pals d'or; à l'agneau couché au nat., br. sur lesdits pals.”
SicilySicily, c. 1775
Where the Agnello Arms Were Recorded
Sicily
Map of Italy showing where the Agnello arms are recorded
The Agnello 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 Agnello 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 Agnello Family in Italy
The family name Agnello is deeply rooted in the history of Sicily, where records confirm the family was well-established by the year 1775. The name itself is derived from the Italian word for lamb, which was often used as a nickname for a person with a gentle or mild temperament. In the social structure of eighteenth-century Sicily, surnames like Agnello were frequently adopted or assigned based on personal traits, occupations, or local landmarks. By the late 1700s, families bearing this name were integrated into the agricultural and social fabric of the island, often living in small communities where they contributed to the local economy. Because Sicily served as a crossroads for many different cultures throughout history, the name reflects the blending of Mediterranean traditions that defined the region during this period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Agnellus
Derived from the Latin word for a young lamb.
This name
AgnelloA surname historically used as a nickname for someone with a gentle or lamb-like personality.
also spelled
Agnell
Anyelo
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archivio di Stato di Palermo, Stato Civile della Restaurazione
Girolamo Caracausi, Dizionario onomastico della Sicilia, 1993
Emidio De Felice, Dizionario dei cognomi italiani, 1978
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lambGentleness, patience and faith
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lambGentleness, patience and faith
