A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cataneo family of Italy.
Reg. 6059 · Italian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
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)
“Parti, d'or à trois houppes de sa., et de sa. au griffon d'or; au chef d'or, br. sur le parti et ch. d'une aigle ép. de sa.”
NaplesNaples, c. 1775
Where the Cataneo Arms Were Recorded
Naples
Map of Italy showing where the Cataneo arms are recorded
The Cataneo 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 Cataneo 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 Cataneo Family in Italy
The name Cataneo is a distinguished surname with deep roots in the southern regions of Italy. By the year 1775, the family was firmly established in Naples, a city that served as a major cultural and economic hub during the period of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. The name itself is thought to be a variation of the term "cattaneo," which historically referred to a person who held land or acted as a representative for a feudal lord. Families bearing this name often played active roles in the administrative and social life of their communities. As residents of Naples, members of the Cataneo family would have navigated a bustling urban environment defined by royal courts, thriving trade, and the complex social hierarchies of the eighteenth century. Their presence in such a prominent city suggests that they were likely integrated into the professional or merchant classes that kept the local economy moving during this era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cattaneus
A Latin term referring to a captain or a military leader.
This name
CataneoA status-based surname denoting someone who served as a captain or held a leadership position.
also spelled
Cattaneo
Catane
Kataneo
Related arms
Cattaneovariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Colapietra, Raffaele, La vita pubblica e privata a Napoli nel Settecento, 1980
De Felice, Emidio, Dizionario dei cognomi italiani, 1978
Archivio di Stato di Napoli, Stato Civile della Restaurazione
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
