A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bernasconi family of Italy.
Reg. 0658 · Italian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 au lion d'or, gravissant un rocher d'arg., mouv. du flanc dextre de l'écu.”
Italyc. 1775
Where the Bernasconi Arms Were Recorded
Venice
Map of Italy showing where the Bernasconi arms are recorded
The Bernasconi 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 Bernasconi 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 Bernasconi Family in Italy
The surname Bernasconi originates from the northern regions of Italy, particularly within the mountainous areas near the border of Switzerland. The name is derived from a personal name that evolved into a family identifier as people began moving from rural villages into larger urban centers. By the late eighteenth century, members of the family had established a presence in the bustling maritime city of Venice. During this period, the family was likely involved in the complex trade networks and professional guilds that defined Venetian life. As they integrated into the city, they became part of the diverse social fabric of the Republic of Venice, contributing to the local economy and administrative life before the city underwent significant political changes at the end of the century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bernardo
Derived from the Germanic elements for bear and brave or hardy.
This name
BernasconiA locative surname originating from the town of Bernasco in Lombardy.
also spelled
Bernascony
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
De Felice, Emidio. Dizionario dei cognomi italiani. 1978
State Archives of Venice (Archivio di Stato di Venezia), Anagrafi di cittadini e forestieri
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
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
lionCourage, strength and royalty
