A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bulgarini family of Italy.
Reg. 5720 · Italian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“De gu. à la croix d'arg.; au chev. renv. d'azur, mouv. du chef et br. sur le tout.”
TuscanyTuscany, c. 1494
Where the Bulgarini Arms Were Recorded
Tuscany
Map of Italy showing where the Bulgarini arms are recorded
The Bulgarini arms were recorded in Tuscany, c. 1494.
Tuscany's cities were run by merchant and banking families rather than landowners. Florence and Siena both kept formal records of their leading houses, and a house on those lists carried 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.
Gian Galeazzo Sforza
Sovereign of the period
Gian Galeazzo Sforza
1476–1494
Reigning in Italy when the Bulgarini 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 Tuscany.
Origin & History of the Bulgarini Family in Italy
The Bulgarini family established their roots in the heart of Tuscany during the late fifteenth century, a period defined by significant political and cultural shifts in Italy. By 1494, members of the family were already integrated into the social fabric of the region, living during a time when Florence and its surrounding territories were transitioning under the influence of the Medici family and the arrival of French forces. The name itself suggests a historical connection to the broader movements of people across Europe, as it likely originated as a descriptive term for those who arrived from regions associated with the Bulgars. As residents of Tuscany, the family participated in the vibrant urban life of the Italian Renaissance, likely engaging in the trade, agriculture, or civic administration that characterized the prosperous city-states of that era. Their presence in the historical record during this time reflects the typical experience of established families who helped shape the local identity of the Tuscan landscape.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bulgarus
A Latinized term referring to a person from Bulgaria.
This name
BulgariniA patronymic or descriptive surname indicating ancestral origins from the Bulgarian region.
also spelled
Bulgariny
Bulgarin
Bulgareenee
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Brucker, Gene, Renaissance Florence, 1969
Cohn, Samuel K., The Cult of Remembrance and the Black Death: Six Renaissance Cities in Central Italy, 1992
Archivio di Stato di Firenze, Catasto, 1427–1495
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
