A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cavagna family of Italy.
Reg. 3746 · Italian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. au lion d'or; à la fasce d'azur, ch. d'une corbeille d'or, br. sur le tout; au chef du sec., ch. d'une aigle ép. de sa., surm. d'une couronne d'or. C.: une aigle iss. de sa., cour. d'or. L. d'or, d'azur et de gu.”
ItalyMilan, c. 1775
Where the Cavagna Arms Were Recorded
Milan
Map of Italy showing where the Cavagna arms are recorded
The Cavagna arms were recorded in Milan, 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 Cavagna 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 Cavagna Family in Italy
The Cavagna family name originates from the northern Italian region of Lombardy, where it has deep roots in the social and economic life of Milan. By the year 1775, the family was well-established within the city, participating in the urban culture that defined the Enlightenment era in Italy. The name itself is derived from the local dialect word *cavagna*, which refers to a traditional woven basket used by farmers and merchants to transport goods to market. This suggests that the earliest ancestors of the family were likely involved in trade, agriculture, or the bustling craft industries that supported the city’s growth. As Milan transitioned through various political changes during the eighteenth century, the Cavagna family remained a part of the local community, contributing to the professional and civic landscape of the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cavagna
Derived from the Latin word cavus meaning hollow or concave.
This name
CavagnaRefers to a person who lived in a hollow or a valley.
also spelled
Kavagna
Cavagne
Cavagnia
Kavanya
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dante Olivieri, Dizionario di toponomastica lombarda, 1961
Emidio De Felice, Dizionario dei cognomi italiani, 1978
Archivio di Stato di Milano, Stato civile della Restaurazione, 1815–1865
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
