A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Boco family of Italy.
Reg. 3196 · Italian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
womanGrace, and the founding of a house
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 femme iss., posée de front, hab. de gu., chevelée et cour. d'or, les bras nus, tenant de chaque main un poisson d'arg., courbé en demi-cercle, la tête en bas. Cq. cour. C.: trois pl. d'aut., une de gu. entre deux d'arg. L. d'arg. et d'azur.”
DalmatiaDalmatia, c. 1775
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Map of Italy showing where the Boco arms are recorded
The Boco arms were recorded in Dalmatia, c. 1775.
Dalmatia was a string of walled towns along the Adriatic coast, each with its own leading families. Sea trade made them wealthy, and the towns kept lists of the houses entitled to arms.
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 Boco 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 Dalmatia.
Origin & History of the Boco Family in Italy
The Boco family name has deep roots in the coastal region of Dalmatia, where records confirm their presence by at least 1775. During this period, the area was a vibrant crossroads of Mediterranean culture, heavily influenced by the maritime trade and administrative structures of the Venetian Republic. Families living in Dalmatian port towns often worked as skilled merchants, sailors, or local administrators who helped connect the inland territories with the wider Adriatic world. The name likely evolved from local linguistic traditions in the region, reflecting the unique blend of Slavic and Romance influences that defined Dalmatian society during the eighteenth century. By settling in this strategic location, early members of the Boco family became part of a resilient community that navigated the complex political shifts of the era while maintaining strong ties to their local heritage.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bucca
Latin term referring to the mouth or cheek.
This name
BocoA nickname likely used to describe someone with prominent cheeks or a large mouth.
also spelled
Boykau
Boyko
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Fisković, Cvito. Dalmatinska zagora u XVIII stoljeću. 1975
State Archives in Zadar. Spisi mletačke uprave u Dalmaciji. 1775
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
womanGrace, and the founding of a house
womanGrace, and the founding of a house
