A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bocanegra family of Italy.
Reg. 6560 · Italian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Ec. en saut. d'arg. et de gu.; au chef d'or, ch. d'une croix de sa.”
Italyc. 1775
Where the Bocanegra Arms Were Recorded
Venice
Map of Italy showing where the Bocanegra arms are recorded
The Bocanegra 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 Bocanegra 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 Bocanegra Family in Italy
The surname Bocanegra, which translates literally to "black mouth," has roots that trace back to the medieval period in the Mediterranean region. While the name is most famously associated with prominent families in Spain and Italy, its presence in Venice by 1775 highlights the family's long-standing connection to major trade hubs and maritime centers. Historically, families carrying this name were often involved in naval affairs, diplomacy, and the complex mercantile networks that linked the Italian city-states with the broader Iberian world. Because Venice served as a crossroads for international travelers and merchants during the eighteenth century, the Bocanegra family likely utilized these connections to establish themselves within the city's sophisticated social and economic landscape. Their movement across these regions suggests a history defined by adaptability and a deep involvement in the cultural exchanges that shaped early modern Europe.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bucca Nigra
Latin for black mouth or dark opening.
This name
BocanegraRefers to a person with a dark complexion or a nickname for a swarthy individual.
also spelled
Bocanegr
Bokanegra
Blackneck
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Ladero Quesada, Miguel Ángel. La casa de Bocanegra. 1990
Mazza, Angelo. I mercanti stranieri a Venezia nel XVIII secolo. 1982
Archivio di Stato di Venezia, Senato, Dispacci degli ambasciatori
Archivo General de Simancas, Registro General del Sello
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
cross symbolChristian faith and service
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
cross symbolChristian faith and service
