A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Canini family of Italy.
Reg. 1963 · Italian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lilyPurity and the promise of resurrection
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“D'azur à un mont de trois coupeaux de sin., le coupeau du milieu sommé d'une plante de muguets d'arg., accostée de deux lévriers ramp. et affr. du même, coll. de gu., soutenus des deux coupeaux ext.; au chef d'or, ch. d'une aigle de sa.”
ItalyBologne, c. 1775
Where the Canini Arms Were Recorded
Bologne
Map of Italy showing where the Canini arms are recorded
The Canini arms were recorded in Bologne, 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 Canini 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 Canini Family in Italy
The surname Canini finds its historical roots in the cultural landscape of Northern Italy, with significant documentation placing the family within the city of Bologna by the year 1775. The name itself is derived from the Italian word "cane," meaning dog, which suggests that the original family members may have been associated with hunting, the care of animals, or perhaps a specific local nickname that eventually became a hereditary surname. During the late 18th century, Bologna was a prominent center for trade and academic life under the administration of the Papal States, and families like the Caninis were often integrated into the urban fabric as skilled artisans, merchants, or landowners. As the family established their presence in the region, they became part of the long-standing tradition of Bolognese civic life, contributing to the social and economic development of the city throughout the transition into the modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cane
Derived from the Latin word canis meaning dog.
This name
CaniniA surname historically used as a nickname for someone with dog-like traits or a dog breeder.
also spelled
Canino
Kanini
Canin
Related arms
Csergheö de Nemes-Tacskándsimilar arms
Caninvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archivio di Stato di Bologna, Stato delle anime della parrocchia di San Pietro, 1775
Dolfi, Pompeo Scipione, Cronologia delle famiglie nobili di Bologna, 1670
Fanti, Mario, Le famiglie bolognesi: repertorio delle fonti, 1975
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