A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Alfonso family of Italy.
Reg. 8335 · Italian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
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 la fasce d'or, acc. de six étoiles du même, 3 en chef et 3 en p.”
SicilySicily, c. 1775
Where the Alfonso Arms Were Recorded
Sicily
Map of Italy showing where the Alfonso arms are recorded
The Alfonso 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 Alfonso 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 Alfonso Family in Italy
The surname Alfonso finds its deep roots in the Germanic name Adalfuns, which translates to noble and ready. Over many centuries, this name spread from its origins in the Iberian Peninsula across the Mediterranean, eventually becoming well-established in Sicily. By the time the family was documented in Sicily in 1775, the name had already evolved through various regional dialects and cultural exchanges. Families bearing this name during the late eighteenth century were often part of the local social fabric in southern Italy, where they lived as farmers, artisans, or merchants. The presence of the Alfonso name in Sicily during this era reflects the long history of migration and cultural blending that defined the island under various ruling powers. Because the name was widely used across Europe, it often appears in parish registers and tax records that track the movement of families through small towns and coastal villages.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Adalfuns
Derived from Germanic elements meaning noble and ready or prepared.
This name
AlfonsoA name signifying a noble individual who is always prepared for battle.
also spelled
Alfonzo
Alfonse
Alphonso
Related arms
Alfonsevariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
De Felice, Emidio. Dizionario dei cognomi italiani. 1978
Fucile, Maria. Cognomi e famiglie di Sicilia. 2002
Archivio di Stato di Palermo, Stato Civile della Restaurazione
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
