A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Capelli family of Italy.
Reg. 7728 · Italian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
hat or capDignity, and the honour of office
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 arg. ou d'arg. sur azur; au chapeau de l'un en l'autre.”
ItalyFlorence, c. 1775
Where the Capelli Arms Were Recorded
Florence
Map of Italy showing where the Capelli arms are recorded
The Capelli arms were recorded in Florence, 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 Capelli 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 Capelli Family in Italy
The surname Capelli originates from the Italian word *capello*, which means hair. In medieval Italy, this name was often used as a descriptive nickname for a person with distinctive hair, such as someone with a thick mane or a specific color. By the time the family was firmly established in Florence during the late 18th century, the name had evolved from a simple nickname into a formal hereditary surname. During the 1700s, Florence was a center of trade and intellectual growth, and families like the Capellis were often involved in the city’s vibrant merchant class or local craft guilds. Living in a city known for its strict record-keeping and social organization, the Capelli family helped shape the urban life of Tuscany as they transitioned from their roots as common citizens into a recognized part of the Florentine community.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Capillus
Latin term referring to a single hair or hair in general.
This name
CapelliA descriptive nickname for someone with a notable head of hair or a hairy appearance.
also spelled
Capely
Capeli
Capelly
Related arms
Cappellivariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
De Felice, Emidio. Dizionario dei cognomi italiani. 1978
State Archives of Florence (Archivio di Stato di Firenze). Stato Civile della Restaurazione. 1815-1865
State Archives of Florence (Archivio di Stato di Firenze). Anagrafe della popolazione di Firenze. 1775
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hat or capDignity, and the honour of office
hat or capDignity, and the honour of office
