A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Borghese family of Italy.
Reg. 7883 · Italian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
dragonA most valiant defender of treasure
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“D'azur à un dragon ailé d'or; au chef du même, ch. d'une aigle de sa., bq., m. et cour. d'or.”
Italyc. 1693
Where the Borghese Arms Were Recorded
Venice
Map of Italy showing where the Borghese arms are recorded
The Borghese arms were recorded in Italy, c. 1693.
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.
Victor Amadeus II of Savoy
Sovereign of the period
Victor Amadeus II of Savoy
1675–1730
Reigning in Italy when the Borghese 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 Borghese Family in Italy
The Borghese family name traces its roots back to the medieval period in the city of Siena, where the family first gained prominence as wealthy merchants and influential public officials. The name itself is thought to be derived from the Italian word "borgo," which refers to a town or a settlement, suggesting that the family were originally prominent citizens of their home community. By the late seventeenth century, members of the family had expanded their reach far beyond their Sienese origins. Historical records confirm that by 1693, representatives of the family were well-established in Venice, where they participated in the city's complex social and political life. This migration highlights the family's ability to adapt to new environments while maintaining their status as members of the Italian elite during the early modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Burgus
A Latin term referring to a small fortified settlement or castle.
This name
BorgheseRefers to someone who originated from a fortified town or lived near a castle.
also spelled
Borgheze
Borgayzay
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Gigliola Fragnito, Storia di una famiglia: i Borghese, 2005
Archivio Segreto Vaticano, Fondo Borghese
Archivio di Stato di Venezia, Archivio notarile, Sezione 1693
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
dragonA most valiant defender of treasure
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
dragonA most valiant defender of treasure
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
