A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Branciforte family of Italy.
Reg. 7181 · Italian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 trois lions d'or. — Ou: D'or à deux lions léopardés de gu., l'un sur l'autre.”
ItalyPlaisance Italie, c. 1775
Where the Branciforte Arms Were Recorded
Plaisance
Map of Italy showing where the Branciforte arms are recorded
The Branciforte arms were recorded in Plaisance Italie, 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 Branciforte 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 Branciforte Family in Italy
The Branciforte family name has deep roots in the Mediterranean region, with a history that stretches back several centuries before the family appeared in North America. The name itself is thought to be a descriptive surname, likely originating from a combination of words meaning strong or firm arms, which suggests that the earliest ancestors were recognized for their physical strength or their role as soldiers. By the middle of the eighteenth century, members of the family had established a presence in Plaisance, located in the present-day province of Quebec. These early settlers were part of a broader movement of families who navigated the challenges of colonial life, working the land and integrating into the local community. Their transition from their ancestral origins to the Canadian landscape highlights the resilience and adaptability that defined the family during this period of migration and growth.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Brancare + Forte
To grasp or clutch combined with the quality of being strong.
This name
BranciforteRefers to a person with a strong grip or a powerful, forceful grasp.
also spelled
Brancifort
Brancifortee
Bransifort
Related arms
Anguissolarecorded with Branciforte, same area
Campirecorded with Branciforte, same area
Colomborecorded with Branciforte, same area
Landirecorded with Branciforte, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Drouin, Gabriel, Dictionnaire national des Canadiens français 1608-1760, 1958
Library and Archives Canada, Recensement du Canada de 1871 (Census records referencing earlier family lineages)
Tanguay, Cyprien, Dictionnaire généalogique des familles canadiennes depuis la fondation de la colonie jusqu'à nos jours, 1871
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
