A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cavalli family of Italy.
Reg. 7882 · Italian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
horseReadiness to serve king and country
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 gu. à un cheval cabré d'arg., onglé et criné d'or, bridé d'azur; à la fasce d'azur, br. sur le tout et ch. de trois étoiles d'or. C.: trois pl. d'aut.; ou, la tête du cheval.”
VeniceVérone · Venice, c. 1775
Where the Cavalli Arms Were Recorded
Venice
Map of Italy showing where the Cavalli arms are recorded
The Cavalli arms were recorded in Venice, c. 1775.
Venice ran on trade, and its great families were merchants before they were anything else. The city kept a formal list of its noble houses, and a name on that list carried arms as a matter of record.
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 Cavalli 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 Venice.
Origin & History of the Cavalli Family in Italy
The name Cavalli originates from the Italian word for horses, suggesting that the family’s earliest ancestors were likely involved in the breeding, training, or trading of these animals. By the late eighteenth century, the family had firmly established itself within the unique social landscape of Venice. During this period, Venice functioned as a major hub for maritime trade and artistic innovation, providing a vibrant environment for families like the Cavallis to participate in the city's complex economic life. Records from 1775 confirm their presence in the city, where they lived among the intricate network of canals and historic stone buildings that defined Venetian society. As residents of this influential city, the family members were part of a long tradition of Venetian citizens who navigated the shifting political and commercial tides of the Mediterranean world.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Caballus
A Latin term referring to a pack horse or work horse.
This name
CavalliAn occupational surname for someone who worked with horses or a nickname for a person with horse-like traits.
also spelled
Cavallie
Cavaly
Cavallii
Kavali
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tassini, Giuseppe. Curiosità veneziane ovvero origini delle denominazioni stradali di Venezia. 1863
Archivio di Stato di Venezia, Anagrafi di popolazione
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
horseReadiness to serve king and country
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
horseReadiness to serve king and country
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
