A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Altavilla family of Italy.
Reg. 8482 · Italian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 au peuplier d'arg., posé à dextre, senestré d'un chien braque ramp. du sec.”
SicilySicily, c. 1775
Where the Altavilla Arms Were Recorded
Sicily
Map of Italy showing where the Altavilla arms are recorded
The Altavilla 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 Altavilla 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 Altavilla Family in Italy
The family name Altavilla carries a deep connection to the history of southern Italy and Sicily. While records confirm the family was well-established in Sicily by 1775, the name itself is rooted in the medieval period. It is the Italian translation of the French name Hauteville, which belonged to a famous family of Norman adventurers who arrived in the Mediterranean during the eleventh century. These early figures rose from modest beginnings to become powerful rulers, eventually establishing the Kingdom of Sicily. Over the following centuries, the name spread across the island as the family integrated into local society. By the late eighteenth century, the Altavilla name was associated with various social classes, ranging from landowners to skilled tradespeople who helped shape the cultural landscape of the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Alta Villa
Derived from the Latin words for high and estate or village.
This name
AltavillaRefers to a person who lived in a settlement located on high ground.
also spelled
Altaville
Altavill
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Norwich, John Julius, The Normans in the South, 1016–1130, 1967
Houben, Hubert, Ruggero II di Sicilia: un sovrano tra Oriente e Occidente, 1999
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.
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
