A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ara family of Italy.
Reg. 3278 · Italian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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 un arbre terrassé de sin., acc. de trois étoiles (5) d'or, rangées en chef.”
Italyc. 1775
Where the Ara Arms Were Recorded
Venice
Map of Italy showing where the Ara arms are recorded
The Ara 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 Ara 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 Ara Family in Italy
The history of the Ara family is deeply connected to the vibrant social and commercial life of Venice during the late eighteenth century. By 1775, records confirm that members of the family were established residents of this influential maritime city, which served as a major crossroads for trade and culture between Europe and the East. The name Ara is often associated with regions around the Mediterranean, and its presence in Venice suggests that the family may have been involved in the city’s extensive merchant networks or its specialized artisan guilds. During this period, Venice was a hub for families who moved across borders to build businesses and contribute to the city’s unique administrative and economic landscape. As residents of a city defined by its canals and international connections, the early Ara family members likely navigated a society that valued both tradition and the constant exchange of new ideas.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ara
Latin term referring to a sacred altar or place of sacrifice.
This name
AraA topographic name for someone who lived near a shrine or altar.
also spelled
Araa
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archivio di Stato di Venezia, Anagrafi di Popolazione, 1775
Lane, Frederic C., Venice, A Maritime Republic, 1973
Romanin, Samuele, Storia documentata di Venezia, 1853
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
