A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Angelis family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 3700 · Italian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cherubDivine protection over the innocent
pillowRest earned, and authority at ease
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 à un ange, posé de front, hab. de gu., ailé d'arg., tenant de sa main dextre une palme de sin., de sa sen. une corne d'abondance d'or, et soutenu d'un coussin carré d'arg., bordé et houppé d'or.”
ItalyRome, c. 1775
Where the Angelis Arms Were Recorded
Rome
Map of Italy showing where the Angelis arms are recorded
The Angelis arms were recorded in Rome, c. 1775.
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 Angelis 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 Italy.
Origin & History of the Angelis Family in Italy
The surname Angelis traces its roots to the Latin word angelus, which means messenger or angel. In Italy, this name often began as a religious reference or a descriptive term for a person with a gentle or virtuous character. By the time the family was firmly established in Rome in 1775, the name had evolved from a simple descriptor into a formal hereditary surname. During this period, Rome was a center of intense cultural and religious activity, and families like the Angelis were often integrated into the city’s administrative or professional life. Living in the heart of the Papal States, members of the family likely navigated a society defined by deep historical traditions and the influence of the Catholic Church. Their presence in the city during the late eighteenth century suggests they were part of the stable urban population that helped maintain the social and economic fabric of Rome before the major political shifts of the nineteenth century.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cherubDivine protection over the innocent
lionCourage, strength and royalty
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 au chev. d'or, acc. en chef de deux chérubins du même et en p. d'un lion au nat.”
Francec. 1663
Where the Angelis Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Angelis arms are recorded
The Angelis arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in Italy when the Angelis arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of France.
Origin & History of the Angelis Family in France
The family name Angelis carries a history deeply rooted in the cultural landscape of western France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in the region of Bretagne. During this period, Bretagne functioned as a distinct province with its own legal customs and social structures, often operating with a level of independence from the central French monarchy. Families living in this area were frequently tied to the land through agriculture or maritime trade, which were the primary drivers of the local economy. As the name suggests a connection to the Latin word for messenger or celestial being, it is likely that the family name evolved from a descriptive nickname or a religious association common in medieval naming traditions. Living in Bretagne during the seventeenth century meant navigating a society shaped by strong regional identity and the influence of the Catholic Church, both of which played significant roles in how families recorded their history and maintained their community ties.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Angelus
Latin term derived from Greek meaning messenger or divine envoy.
This name
AngelisRefers to a descendant or follower of one associated with angelic qualities.
also spelled
Anjelis
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
De Felice, Emidio. Dizionario dei cognomi italiani. 1978
Fucile, Roberto. I cognomi d'Italia: Dizionario storico ed etimologico. 1987
Archivio di Stato di Roma, Stato delle Anime
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cherubDivine protection over the innocent
pillowRest earned, and authority at ease
cherubDivine protection over the innocent
pillowRest earned, and authority at ease
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
