A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Baretta family of Italy.
Reg. 4283 · Italian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
hat or capDignity, and the honour of office
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à un béret ou bonnet de sa. C.: trois pl. d'aut., une d'or entre deux de sa. - Ou: De gu. à une bande d'or, ch. d'un béret de sa., posé dans le sens de la bande.”
ItalyVicence, c. 1775
Where the Baretta Arms Were Recorded
Vicence
Map of Italy showing where the Baretta arms are recorded
The Baretta arms were recorded in Vicence, 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 Baretta 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 Baretta Family in Italy
The family name Baretta finds its historical roots in the Veneto region of Northern Italy, with a documented presence in the city of Vicenza by the year 1775. The name is believed to have originated as a descriptive term, likely derived from the Italian word "berretta," which refers to a type of cap or head covering. In medieval and early modern society, it was common for surnames to evolve from nicknames that identified a person by their trade, such as a hat maker, or by a distinctive piece of clothing they frequently wore. By the late 18th century, families bearing this name were well-established members of the local community in Vicenza, participating in the social and economic life of the city during a period of significant transition in Italian history. As the family grew, they became part of the local fabric of the region, maintaining their identity through generations as they navigated the changing political landscape of the Venetian territories.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
birrus
A heavy, hooded cloak made of coarse wool worn in antiquity.
This name
BarettaAn occupational name for a maker or seller of hooded cloaks or caps.
also spelled
Bareta
Related arms
Baretavariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archivio di Stato di Vicenza, Stato civile della restaurazione
Archivio Storico Comunale di Vicenza, Anagrafe storica della città
De Felice, Emidio, Dizionario dei cognomi italiani, 1978
Mantese, Giovanni, Storia di Vicenza: Dal 1700 al 1866, 1982
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
hat or capDignity, and the honour of office
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
hat or capDignity, and the honour of office
