A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Allegra family of Italy.
Reg. 1344 · Italian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or au lion de gu., tenant un bouquet de roses de gu. et de fleurs d'azur.”
SicilySicily, c. 1775
Where the Allegra Arms Were Recorded
Sicily
Map of Italy showing where the Allegra arms are recorded
The Allegra 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 Allegra 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 Allegra Family in Italy
The surname Allegra finds its roots in the vibrant cultural landscape of medieval Italy, derived from the Italian word for joyful or cheerful. While the name likely began as a descriptive nickname for a person with a bright and optimistic personality, it eventually became a formal family identifier passed down through generations. By the late eighteenth century, the family had established a firm presence in Sicily, a region known for its complex history of diverse cultural influences. Records from 1775 confirm that members of the Allegra family were well-integrated into the local social fabric of the island during this period. As they navigated the agricultural and civic life of Sicily, the family contributed to the local traditions and community structures that defined the era. Their history reflects the broader movement of families across the Mediterranean, where names often evolved alongside the shifting borders and social changes of the Italian peninsula.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
alacer
Latin term meaning brisk, lively, or eager.
This name
AllegraDerived from the Italian adjective meaning joyful, cheerful, or happy.
also spelled
Allegrra
Allegrah
Alegra
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
De Felice, Emidio. Dizionario dei cognomi italiani. 1978
Archivio di Stato di Palermo, Stato Civile della Restaurazione
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
