A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Aqua family of Italy.
Reg. 6417 · Italian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
horseReadiness to serve king and country
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Parti: au 1 d'or au lion d'arg. ou de gu., acc. de six étoiles d'azur, trois en chef, 1 et 2, et trois en p., 2 et 1; à la fasce d'azur, br. sur le lion; au 2 d'azur à une tête et col de cheval d'arg., crinée d'or, sommée d'un demi-vol d'arg. Cq. cour. C.: une canette d'arg., bq. et m. de gu. L.: à dextre d'azur et d'azur, à sen. d'arg. et d'azur.”
Italyc. 1775
Where the Aqua Arms Were Recorded
Venice
Map of Italy showing where the Aqua arms are recorded
The Aqua arms were recorded in Italy, c. 1775.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Venice.
Venice ran on trade, and its great families were merchants before they were anything else. The city kept a formal list of its noble houses, and a name on that list carried arms as a matter of record.
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 Aqua 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 Aqua Family in Italy
The family name Aqua traces its roots to the vibrant maritime culture of Venice, where records confirm the family was established by 1775. Given the name’s direct translation to water, it is likely that the family was deeply connected to the unique geography and economy of the Venetian lagoon. During the late 18th century, Venice served as a major hub for trade and navigation, and families with names tied to the sea often worked as merchants, shipbuilders, or maritime specialists. Living in a city defined by its canals, the Aqua family would have navigated a society where water was the primary highway for commerce and daily life. Their presence in the city during this period suggests they were part of the industrious middle class that kept the Venetian economy moving during the final years of the Republic.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Aqua
Latin term referring to water or a body of liquid.
This name
AquaAn occupational or habitational surname for someone living near a water source.
also spelled
Aquae
Aquaa
Akwa
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archivio di Stato di Venezia, Anagrafe di Venezia, Sezione Sestiere di San Marco, 1775
Lane, Frederic C., Venice, A Maritime Republic, 1973
Tassini, Giuseppe, Curiosità veneziane ovvero origini delle denominazioni stradali di Venezia, 1863
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
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
horseReadiness to serve king and country
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
horseReadiness to serve king and country
