A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bra family of Italy.
Reg. 5723 · Italian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. à la fasce d'azur, ch. de deux fleurs-de-lis d'or et acc. de trois roses du même. C.: un dragon couché d'or, ayant deux pattes, les ailes levées.”
ItalyVérone, c. 1775
Where the Bra Arms Were Recorded
Vérone
Map of Italy showing where the Bra arms are recorded
The Bra arms were recorded in Vérone, c. 1775.
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 Bra 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 Bra Family in Italy
The family name Bra traces its roots to the historic city of Verona, Italy, where members of the lineage were firmly established by the year 1775. During this period, Verona was a significant cultural and administrative hub under the influence of the Republic of Venice. Families with this name were often integrated into the local urban fabric, likely participating in the trade or professional guilds that defined life in Northern Italy during the late eighteenth century. As the name is short and distinct, it may have originated as a topographic identifier, referring to individuals who lived near specific grazing lands or open fields known as "bra" in the local dialect. By the time of the late 1700s, the family had become a recognized part of the Veronese community, contributing to the social and economic development of the region during a time of great transition in European history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Brada
A Germanic term referring to a broad or wide piece of land.
This name
BraA topographic surname identifying someone who lived near a wide field or meadow.
also spelled
Braa
Brah
Brae
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archivio di Stato di Verona, Anagrafe della città di Verona, 1775
Cappelletti, Giuseppe, Storia della città di Verona dai tempi più remoti fino all'anno 1854, 1854
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
