A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Agnes family of Italy.
Reg. 4551 · Italian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
swordJustice, and military honour
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 deux épées d'arg., passées en saut., les pointes en bas; à la bord. denchée de gu. Deux cq., le 1 cour. C.: 1o une hure de sanglier de sa., le boutoir en haut; 2o une tête et col de bouc de sa.”
NaplesNaples, c. 1775
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Map of Italy showing where the Agnes arms are recorded
The Agnes 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.
Alvise Giovanni Mocenigo
Sovereign of the period
Alvise Giovanni Mocenigo
1763–1778
Reigning in Italy when the Agnes 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 Naples.
Origin & History of the Agnes Family in Italy
The surname Agnes carries a deep connection to the cultural landscape of Southern Italy, with documented roots tracing back to the city of Naples by the year 1775. The name itself is derived from the Latin term agnus, which means lamb and carries strong historical associations with purity and religious devotion. During the late 18th century, families bearing this name were integrated into the vibrant social and economic life of the Kingdom of Naples. As the city served as a major hub for trade and administration under the Bourbon monarchy, the Agnes family likely participated in the local merchant or professional classes that defined the era. By settling in this historic capital, the family became part of a long tradition of Neapolitan lineage that valued community ties and regional identity during a time of significant political change in Italy.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
hagnos
Ancient Greek word meaning pure, chaste, or holy.
This name
AgnesDerived from the Latin agnus, signifying a lamb, often associated with purity and innocence.
also spelled
Agneze
Anyese
Agneese
Agnes
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archivio di Stato di Napoli, Stato Civile della Restaurazione
Colletta, Pietro, Storia del Reame di Napoli dal 1734 sino al 1825, 1834
De Seta, Cesare, Napoli, 1981
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