A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Biffi family of Italy.
Reg. 2961 · Italian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Tiercé en fasce: au 1 d'or à l'aigle de sa., cour. d'or; au 2 d'arg. au château de gu., crénelé de trois pièces entaillées; au 3 tiercé en bande de sin., d'arg. et de gu. C.: une aigle iss. de sa., cour. d'or.”
ItalyCrémone, c. 1691
Where the Biffi Arms Were Recorded
Crémone
Map of Italy showing where the Biffi arms are recorded
The Biffi arms were recorded in Crémone, c. 1691.
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.
Victor Amadeus II of Savoy
Sovereign of the period
Victor Amadeus II of Savoy
1675–1730
Reigning in Italy when the Biffi 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 Biffi Family in Italy
The Biffi family name has deep roots in the Lombardy region of northern Italy, with historical records confirming their presence in the city of Cremona by the year 1691. The name itself is believed to be a variation of the medieval personal name Biffus, which likely served as a nickname or a shortened form of longer names popular during the Middle Ages. Families with this surname were often involved in the professional and civic life of their local communities, acting as merchants, landowners, or skilled tradespeople. By the late 17th century, the Biffi name was well-established in the social fabric of Cremona, a city known for its rich history of craftsmanship and trade. As the family grew, they became part of the local population that helped shape the economic and cultural development of the region during the transition into the modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Epiphanius
Derived from the Greek word meaning manifestation or appearance.
This name
BiffiA patronymic or diminutive form originating from the feast of the Epiphany.
also spelled
Bify
Bifee
Biffy
Related arms
Sebergüntzsimilar arms
Zucchellisimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archivio di Stato di Cremona, Stato delle anime della parrocchia di San Michele (1691)
Archivio Storico Civico di Cremona, Registri dei cittadini e delle famiglie (17th century)
Emidio De Felice, Dizionario dei cognomi italiani (1978)
Guglielmo Corsellini, Storia di Cremona (1820)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
