A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Billini family of Italy.
Reg. 2119 · Italian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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 cinq plantes de sin., fleuries d'arg., posées sur une terrasse du sec., les 2e et 4e plantes sommées chacune d'un oiseau d'arg., le premier cont.”
VeniceVenice, c. 1775
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Map of Italy showing where the Billini arms are recorded
The Billini arms were recorded in Venice, c. 1775.
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 Billini 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 Venice.
Origin & History of the Billini Family in Italy
The Billini family name carries a deep connection to the historic city of Venice, where members of the lineage were firmly established by 1775. During this era, Venice served as a vital crossroads for trade and culture, and families like the Billinis often participated in the city's complex social and economic life. Historical records suggest that the family was integrated into the local merchant and professional classes that kept the Venetian Republic functioning during its final decades of independence. By maintaining a presence in such a prominent maritime power, the family likely navigated the shifting political landscape of the late eighteenth century as the city transitioned through various European conflicts. Their history reflects the broader story of Venetian citizens who balanced traditional commerce with the evolving demands of a changing continent.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Billi
A diminutive form derived from the Germanic name William.
This name
BilliniA patronymic or descriptive surname indicating a descendant of someone named Billi.
also spelled
Bolliny
Bollinie
Bollin
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archivio di Stato di Venezia, Anagrafi di cittadini e forestieri
Lane, Frederic C., Venice, a Maritime Republic, 1973
Tassini, Giuseppe, Curiosità veneziane ovvero origini delle denominazioni stradali di Venezia, 1863
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
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
