A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Comer family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 8409 · Italian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Ec., d'un palé de gu. et d'or de quatre pièces, et d'azur plein; au chef d'or, ch. d'une aigle de sa., cour. d'or.”
ItalyMilan, c. 1775
Where the Comer Arms Were Recorded
Milan
Map of Italy showing where the Comer arms are recorded
The Comer 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 Comer 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 Comer Family in Italy
The family name Comer has deep roots in the historical landscape of northern Italy, with documented evidence placing members of the family in Milan by 1775. During the late eighteenth century, Milan served as a vibrant center of culture and trade under the influence of the Habsburg monarchy. Families living in the city at this time were often involved in the growing merchant class or the administrative functions of the local government. As the region transitioned through periods of political change and industrial growth, the Comer family likely navigated the shifting social structures of Lombardy. By settling in a major urban hub like Milan, these early ancestors positioned themselves within a society that valued education, commerce, and civic participation. Their presence in the city during this era suggests they were part of the steady development of Milanese life before the major upheavals of the nineteenth century.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
keyGuardianship, and the office of a steward
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Vert, on a fesse betw. three eagles displ. or, as many keys wards upwards sa”
SomersetFitzhead · Somerset, c. 1620
Where the Comer Arms Were Recorded
Somerset
Map of England showing where the Comer arms are recorded
The Comer arms were recorded in Somerset, c. 1620.
Somerset was rich farming country with a thick scattering of manor houses. Its gentry were numerous and long-settled, and a settled landed family almost always ended up with arms.
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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in Italy when the Comer arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Somerset.
Origin & History of the Comer Family in England
The surname Comer is deeply rooted in the landscape of southwestern England, with historical records confirming the family’s presence in the county of Somerset by the early seventeenth century. The name is generally classified as a topographic surname, which means it was likely adopted by people who lived near a specific geographical feature, such as a narrow valley or a ridge. In the dialect of the West Country, the term often referred to someone who lived in or near a "combe," a word of Brythonic origin describing a steep-sided hollow or valley. By 1620, families bearing this name were well-established as part of the local agrarian society in Somerset, where they worked the land and contributed to the growth of rural parish communities. As these families grew, they became woven into the social fabric of the region, leaving behind traces in local tax rolls and church registers that document their transition from local residents to a recognized lineage within the English countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Comes
Latin term for a companion, attendant, or count.
This name
ComerAn occupational or status-based name denoting a servant or associate of a nobleman.
also spelled
Commer
Komer
Comar
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archivio di Stato di Milano, Stato civile della Restaurazione, Milano
Cattaneo, Carlo, Notizie naturali e civili su la Lombardia, 1844
Romani, Roberto, Sensibilities of the Risorgimento: Reason and Passions in Political Thought, 2018
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
keyGuardianship, and the office of a steward
