A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cei family of Italy.
Reg. 2831 · Italian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à trois demi-vols de gu.”
ItalyFlorence, c. 1775
Where the Cei Arms Were Recorded
Florence
Map of Italy showing where the Cei arms are recorded
The Cei 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 Cei 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 Cei Family in Italy
The family name Cei is deeply rooted in the history of Tuscany, with documented records confirming their presence in Florence by the late eighteenth century. The name itself is considered a patronymic, which means it likely evolved as a shortened form of a longer given name such as Francesco or Vincenzio. During the 1700s, Florence was a vibrant center of trade and craftsmanship under the rule of the House of Lorraine, providing a stable environment for families to establish their roots. Members of the Cei family were often integrated into the city’s social fabric as merchants or skilled artisans, contributing to the local economy and the unique cultural identity of the region. As the family grew, they became part of the long tradition of Florentine citizens who helped shape the city’s transition into the modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ceco
A diminutive or hypocoristic form of the name Francesco.
This name
CeiDerived from a shortened version of Francesco, meaning a free man or Frenchman.
also spelled
Kei
Say
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archivio di Stato di Firenze, Stato Civile della Restaurazione
Borselli, Girolamo, Cronica gestorum ac factorum memorabilium civitatis Bononie, 1497
Repetti, Emanuele, Dizionario geografico fisico storico della Toscana, 1833
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wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
