A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Amato family of Italy.
Reg. 7828 · Italian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
lionCourage, strength and royalty
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 une bande, acc. en chef d'un lion surm. d'une comète posée en bande, et en p. d'une étoile (8), le tout d'or.”
SicilySicily, c. 1775
Where the Amato Arms Were Recorded
Sicily
Map of Italy showing where the Amato arms are recorded
The Amato 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 Amato 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 Amato Family in Italy
The surname Amato originates from the Latin word amatus, which translates to beloved or dear. During the Middle Ages, this term was often used as a personal name to signify a child who was cherished or welcomed into a family. Over time, it transitioned into a hereditary surname as populations grew and people needed ways to distinguish themselves in official records. By the time the family was documented in Sicily in 1775, the name had become well-established across the Italian peninsula. Families bearing this name were often integrated into local agricultural or merchant communities, reflecting the common social structures of the era. The prevalence of the name in Sicily suggests that ancestors likely lived through the various cultural shifts that defined the island, including the influence of Mediterranean trade and local administrative developments during the eighteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Amatus
Latin for beloved or dear one.
This name
AmatoDerived from a medieval personal name signifying a cherished or well-loved individual.
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
De Felice, Emidio. Dizionario dei cognomi italiani. 1978
Fucile, Francesco. Cognomi e famiglie di Sicilia. 2005
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.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
