A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Candia family of Italy.
Reg. 7568 · Italian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
dolphinSwiftness, charity and love
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Coupé d'azur sur or; l'azur ch. d'un dauphin au nat. nageant sur une mer d'arg. et supp. une aigle de profil de sa., bq. et m. d'or, le vol levé. Cq. cour. C.: trois pl. d'aut., une d'or entre deux d'azur. L. d'or et d'azur.”
DalmatiaDalmatia, c. 1775
Where the Candia Arms Were Recorded
Map of Italy showing where the Candia arms are recorded
The Candia arms were recorded in Dalmatia, c. 1775.
Dalmatia was a string of walled towns along the Adriatic coast, each with its own leading families. Sea trade made them wealthy, and the towns kept lists of the houses entitled to 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.
Alvise Giovanni Mocenigo
Sovereign of the period
Alvise Giovanni Mocenigo
1763–1778
Reigning in Italy when the Candia 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 Dalmatia.
Origin & History of the Candia Family in Italy
The surname Candia carries a rich history tied to the movement of people across the Mediterranean region. While the name is famously associated with the island of Crete, which was known as Candia during the period of Venetian rule, branches of the family established themselves in other coastal areas over the centuries. By 1775, records confirm that members of the Candia family were living in Dalmatia, a region along the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea. This area served as a vital crossroads for trade and cultural exchange between the Italian peninsula and the Balkan interior. Families in this region often adapted their surnames as they migrated between port cities, reflecting the shifting borders and maritime influence of the era. The presence of the Candia name in Dalmatian documents from the late eighteenth century suggests that these ancestors were likely part of the active merchant or administrative classes who helped connect the local population with the broader Mediterranean world.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Candidus
Latin term meaning bright, white, or glowing.
This name
CandiaRefers to a person from the town of Candia or one with a fair complexion.
also spelled
Kandia
Candya
Candiah
Kandya
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Kulenović, Dž. Povijest dalmatinskih obitelji. 1998
State Archives in Zadar, Zbirka matičnih knjiga (Collection of Parish Registers), 1775
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
dolphinSwiftness, charity and love
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
dolphinSwiftness, charity and love
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
