A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Capece family of Italy.
Reg. 7253 · Italian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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 sa. au lion d'or, arm. et lamp. de gu. C.: 1º une tête et col de cheval cont. d'or, bridée de gu.; 2º un V de gu., entrelacé avec un S du même, chaque branche du V surm. d'une couronne d'or, et le tout surm. d'une troisième couronne d'or; 3º un dragon ailé iss. de sin.”
NaplesNaples, c. 1775
Where the Capece Arms Were Recorded
Naples
Map of Italy showing where the Capece arms are recorded
The Capece arms were recorded in Naples, c. 1775.
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.
Alvise Giovanni Mocenigo
Sovereign of the period
Alvise Giovanni Mocenigo
1763–1778
Reigning in Italy when the Capece 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 Capece Family in Italy
The Capece family holds a long and significant place in the history of Naples, with their roots stretching back well before the eighteenth century. By the time the family was firmly established in the city in 1775, they were already recognized as a prominent noble house with deep ties to the administrative and social life of the Kingdom of Naples. The name itself is believed to derive from the Greek term *kapakios*, which suggests an ancient connection to the Byzantine influence that shaped Southern Italy during the Middle Ages. Throughout their early history, family members frequently served as high-ranking officials, judges, and advisors to the ruling monarchs. Their presence in the city was defined by their involvement in the complex political landscape of the Italian peninsula, where they helped manage the affairs of the Neapolitan state for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Caput
Latin term meaning head or leader.
This name
CapeceDerived from a nickname referring to a person with a prominent head or a leader.
also spelled
Kapece
Capeceh
Capecee
Capaychay
Capayche
Related arms
Greysimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Ammirato, Scipione. Delle famiglie nobili napoletane. 1580
Candida Gonzaga, Berardo. Memorie delle famiglie nobili delle province meridionali d'Italia. 1875
Archivio di Stato di Napoli, Repertorio della Regia Camera della Sommaria
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
