A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Barca family of Italy.
Reg. 7287 · Italian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
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 une fasce, acc. de quatorze étoiles, le tout d'arg., sept en chef, dont une au point du chef et les six autres rangées en demi-cercle; et sept en p., 4, 2 et 1. Cq. cour. C.: trois pl. d'aut. d'arg.”
ItalyRaguse, c. 1775
Where the Barca Arms Were Recorded
Raguse
Map of Italy showing where the Barca arms are recorded
The Barca arms were recorded in Raguse, 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 Barca 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 Barca Family in Italy
The family name Barca has deep roots in the Mediterranean region, with historical records confirming the family’s presence in the city of Ragusa, now known as Dubrovnik, by the year 1775. During this period, Ragusa was a thriving maritime republic that served as a vital bridge between the cultures of the East and the West. Families living in this city were often involved in international trade, shipping, and diplomacy, which allowed them to build significant influence across the Adriatic Sea. The name itself is thought to be linked to the Latin word for a small boat or vessel, suggesting that the earliest ancestors of the family may have been sailors, shipbuilders, or merchants who relied on the sea for their livelihood. By settling in a major port city like Ragusa, the family became part of a complex social network that valued education, commerce, and navigation, helping them establish a lasting legacy in the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Barca
Derived from the Latin word barca meaning a small boat or vessel.
This name
BarcaAn occupational name for a boatman, ferryman, or someone who lived near a boat landing.
also spelled
Barcah
Barcaa
Barcae
Barka
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Kostić, Veselin, Dubrovnik i Engleska 1300–1650, 1975
State Archives in Dubrovnik (Državni arhiv u Dubrovniku), Serija: Acta Ragusina
Vekarić, Nenad, Vlastela grada Dubrovnika, 2011
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
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
