A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ale family of Italy.
Reg. 2360 · Italian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
vol / wingsSwiftness and protection
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“De gu. au vol d'or, acc. en chef d'un croiss. cont. d'arg. Cq. cour. C.: un vol d'or. L. d'or et de gu.”
Italyc. 1775
Where the Ale Arms Were Recorded
Venice
Map of Italy showing where the Ale arms are recorded
The Ale 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 Ale 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 Ale Family in Italy
The history of the Ale family name is deeply connected to the vibrant social and commercial life of Venice during the late eighteenth century. By 1775, the family was well-established within the city, a time when Venice served as a major hub for international trade and artistic exchange. The name itself is thought to have roots in the regional dialects of Northern Italy, where it may have functioned as a shorthand or a descriptive nickname for individuals living near specific landmarks or those involved in the local maritime economy. As residents of a city defined by its intricate network of canals and global merchant connections, the Ale family likely participated in the unique urban culture of the Venetian Republic. Their presence in official records from this era highlights how families of that time navigated the complex administrative systems of the city while contributing to the daily life of one of Europe’s most influential historical centers.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Alexander
Derived from Greek words meaning defender of men.
This name
AleAn Italian patronymic or shortened form originating from the given name Alessandro.
also spelled
Alee
Aleh
Aley
Alay
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archivio di Stato di Venezia, Anagrafi di cittadini e forestieri, 1775
Tassini, Giuseppe, Curiosità veneziane ovvero origini delle denominazioni stradali di Venezia, 1863
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vol / wingsSwiftness and protection
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
vol / wingsSwiftness and protection
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
