A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Alefantis family of Italy.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serveJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'arg. à trois fasces entées de sa.”
The Alefantis arms were recorded in Florence, c. 1694.
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 Alefantis 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 Alefantis family name carries a history deeply rooted in the cultural crossroads of the Mediterranean. By the late seventeenth century, records confirm that members of the family were established in Florence, Italy, as early as 1694. During this period, Florence was a major center for trade and intellectual exchange, attracting families who were often involved in the merchant class or the arts. The name itself suggests a connection to the Greek language, as it likely derives from the word "elefantis," which translates to elephant. In historical contexts, such names were often adopted as descriptive nicknames or occupational markers that distinguished specific lineages within a community. Over time, the family transitioned from these early Italian roots into a broader European presence, maintaining their identity through generations of migration and social change.
Latin term for elephant or ivory.
