A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Colaianni family of Italy.
Reg. 5729 · Italian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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: au 1 d'or à l'aigle de sa., cour. d'or; au 2 de gu. à une étoile d'arg. Cq. cour. C.: un bras arm., brandissant une épée, le tout au nat. L.: à dextre d'arg. et de gu., à sen. d'or et de sa.”
Italyc. 1775
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Map of Italy showing where the Colaianni arms are recorded
The Colaianni arms were recorded in Italy, c. 1775.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Venice.
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 Colaianni 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 Colaianni Family in Italy
The family name Colaianni is rooted in the rich linguistic traditions of Italy, evolving as a patronymic surname that identifies a person as the descendant of someone named Cola. This name was a common medieval nickname for Nicola, which reflects the widespread cultural influence of Saint Nicholas throughout the Italian peninsula. By the year 1775, records confirm that members of the Colaianni family were established in Venice. During this period, Venice served as a major crossroads for trade and intellectual exchange, suggesting that the family likely participated in the vibrant merchant or artisan classes that defined the city. As the family moved through the centuries, the name remained a testament to their regional origins and their connection to the social structures of the Venetian Republic.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Nicolaus
Victory of the people derived from Greek Nike and Laos
This name
ColaianniA patronymic surname meaning son or descendant of Cola, a diminutive of Nicola.
also spelled
Coliny
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
De Felice, Emidio. Dizionario dei cognomi italiani. 1978
Fucilla, Joseph G. Our Italian Surnames. 1949
Archivio di Stato di Venezia, Anagrafe di Venezia
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
