A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Balestrieri family of Italy.
Reg. 7669 · Italian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
crossbowReadiness for battle and skill at arms
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. à la bande d'or, ch. d'une arbalète au nat., posée en bande, l'arc br. sur le gu.”
VeniceVenice, c. 1775
Where the Balestrieri Arms Were Recorded
Venice
Map of Italy showing where the Balestrieri arms are recorded
The Balestrieri arms were recorded in Venice, c. 1775.
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 Balestrieri 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 Venice.
Origin & History of the Balestrieri Family in Italy
The surname Balestrieri finds its roots in the professional life of medieval Italy, specifically originating from the occupational title for a crossbowman. The name is derived from the Italian word balestra, which refers to the crossbow, a weapon that played a significant role in both military defense and hunting during the Middle Ages. By the time the family was firmly established in Venice in 1775, the name had transitioned from a description of a soldier’s trade to a formal hereditary surname. During the eighteenth century, Venice served as a bustling center of commerce and maritime power, and families like the Balestrieri were often integrated into the city’s complex social and professional networks. While the name began as a reference to a specific skill set on the battlefield, it eventually became a lasting identifier for generations of families living within the Venetian Republic.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
ballista
A Latin term for a military engine used to throw projectiles.
This name
BalestrieriAn occupational surname for a crossbowman or a soldier who operated siege weaponry.
also spelled
Balestrier
Balestriery
Balestreeree
Related arms
Balestriervariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
De Felice, Emidio, Dizionario dei cognomi italiani, 1978
Archivio di Stato di Venezia, Anagrafe di Venezia, 1775
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
crossbowReadiness for battle and skill at arms
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
crossbowReadiness for battle and skill at arms
