A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bernini family of Italy.
Reg. 7927 · Italian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
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 fontaine d'arg., composée d'une colonne qui s'élève d'un bassin circulaire, jaillissante de deux traits.”
ItalyRome, c. 1775
Where the Bernini Arms Were Recorded
Rome
Map of Italy showing where the Bernini arms are recorded
The Bernini arms were recorded in Rome, 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 Bernini 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 Bernini Family in Italy
The surname Bernini is deeply rooted in the history of central Italy, where it emerged as a patronymic name derived from the given name Bernardo. During the eighteenth century, the family established a notable presence in Rome, a city that served as a vibrant center for art and commerce. By 1775, records indicate that members of the Bernini family were active participants in the social and professional life of the capital. While the name is most famously associated with the legendary sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini, who lived a century earlier, the families bearing this name in the late 1700s were often connected to the skilled trades and professional guilds that kept the city functioning. These families lived through a period of significant transition in Rome, witnessing the influence of the Papal States as they navigated the changing political landscape of Europe.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bern
Derived from the Germanic element meaning bear.
This name
BerniniA patronymic or diminutive form indicating a descendant of someone named Bern.
also spelled
Berneenee
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Montanari, Tomaso, Gian Lorenzo Bernini: La vita e l'opera, 2013
Archivio di Stato di Roma, Stato delle Anime, 1775
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
