A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Conta family of Italy.
Reg. 1895 · Italian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 un bras, arm. d'azur, mouv. de la p., brandissant une épée d'arg., garnie d'or. Cq. cour. C.: le meuble de l'écu. L. d'arg. et d'azur.”
ItalySaxe-Weimar, c. 1825
Where the Conta Arms Were Recorded
Venice
Map of Italy showing where the Conta arms are recorded
The Conta arms were recorded in Saxe-Weimar, c. 1825.
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.
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 Conta Family in Italy
The family name Conta has deep roots in the historical landscape of Northern Italy, with significant records placing the family in Venice by the early 19th century. During this period, Venice was a bustling center of trade and culture under the influence of the Austrian Empire, providing a unique environment for families to establish themselves in professional and civic life. The name itself is thought to be derived from the Italian word "conto," which relates to accounting or noble titles, suggesting that early ancestors may have held roles in administration, commerce, or local governance. As the family navigated the shifting political borders of the Veneto region, they became part of the long-standing tradition of Venetian urban society. By 1825, the presence of the Conta name in official city registers highlights their integration into the social fabric of one of Europe’s most important maritime cities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Comes
Latin term for a companion or an attendant to a leader.
This name
ContaRefers to a person who served as a companion or official attendant.
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archivio di Stato di Venezia, Anagrafe della popolazione della città di Venezia (1806-1866)
Cessi, Roberto, Storia di Venezia, 1944
Lane, Frederic C., Venice, A Maritime Republic, 1973
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armA person of action, industrious and laborious
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
