A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Caetano family of Italy.
Reg. 8391 · Italian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'arg. à une jumelle ondée d'azur, en bande (Caetani); aux 2 et 3 de sa. à l'aigle d'arg., bq., m. et cour. d'or (Aquila). Cq. cour. C.: l'aigle. Cri: FOLIA PROCUMBUNT. D.: MEMENTO QUOD GIBELLINUS ES, ET CUM GIBELLINIS IN CINEREM REVERTERIS.”
NaplesRome · Naples, c. 1507
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Map of Italy showing where the Caetano arms are recorded
The Caetano arms were recorded in Naples, c. 1507.
Naples was the largest city in Italy and the seat of a kingdom. Its noble houses were numerous, and the kingdom kept formal lists of the families entitled to arms, which is why so many appear in the records.
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.
Leonardo Loredan
Sovereign of the period
Leonardo Loredan
1501–1521
Reigning in Italy when the Caetano 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 Naples.
Origin & History of the Caetano Family in Italy
The surname Caetano has deep roots connected to the cultural landscape of Southern Italy, with documented evidence of the family residing in Naples as early as 1507. The name is derived from the Latin term Caietanus, which originally served as a geographic identifier for people hailing from the ancient coastal city of Gaeta. During the Renaissance, families often adopted these location-based names to signify their origins and social standing within the bustling urban centers of the Kingdom of Naples. As the family established itself in the city, they became integrated into the local administrative and social fabric of the region. This transition from a regional descriptor to a permanent family name reflects the broader patterns of naming conventions that emerged in Italy during the late Middle Ages and the early modern period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Caietanus
Derived from the ancient Roman city of Caieta, modern Gaeta.
This name
CaetanoRefers to someone who originated from the Italian coastal city of Gaeta.
also spelled
Caetani
Caetano
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
De Felice, Emidio. Dizionario dei cognomi italiani. 1978
Carocci, Sandro. Baroni di Roma. Dominazioni signorili e lignaggi aristocratici nel Duecento e nel primo Trecento. 1993
Archivio di Stato di Napoli, Registri della Cancelleria Angioina
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
