A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bozza family of Italy.
Reg. 5018 · Italian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
handFaith, sincerity and justice
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“de sa main sen. et le griffon de sa patte dextre. L. d'or, d'azur et de sa.”
Italyc. 1775
Where the Bozza Arms Were Recorded
Venice
Map of Italy showing where the Bozza arms are recorded
The Bozza 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 Bozza 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 Bozza Family in Italy
The Bozza family name is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of Northern Italy, with significant records placing the family in Venice by the year 1775. The name itself is thought to have originated as a descriptive nickname, likely derived from the Italian word "bozza," which refers to a rough stone or an unpolished block used in masonry and architecture. This suggests that early ancestors may have been skilled stonemasons or builders who contributed to the intricate construction projects that defined the Venetian Republic during its height. As the family established their presence in Venice, they became part of the city's vibrant social and professional fabric, living among the canals and plazas that served as the center of Mediterranean trade. Over time, the name transitioned from a simple descriptor of a trade or physical trait into a permanent family identifier, reflecting the enduring legacy of those who helped shape the physical environment of their home city.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
botium
A Latin term referring to a lump, swelling, or rounded mass.
This name
BozzaA topographic or descriptive nickname for someone with a stout build or living near a rounded hill.
also spelled
Boza
Related arms
Boutinsimilar arms
Emmesimilar arms
Erlabecksimilar arms
Laensimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archivio di Stato di Venezia, Anagrafiche di Popolazione
Archivio Storico del Patriarcato di Venezia, Registri Parrocchiali di Battesimo, Matrimonio e Morte
De Felice, Emidio, Dizionario dei cognomi italiani, 1978
Olivieri, Dante, Dizionario dei cognomi italiani, 1953
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
handFaith, sincerity and justice
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
handFaith, sincerity and justice
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
