A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Croce family of Italy.
Reg. 5017 · Italian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
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 une croix de douze pointes de gu. C.: la croix. D.: PRAECLARI FACINORIS GLORIA.”
ItalyMilan, c. 1775
Where the Croce Arms Were Recorded
Milan
Map of Italy showing where the Croce arms are recorded
The Croce 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 Croce 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 Croce Family in Italy
The surname Croce is derived from the Italian word for cross, which suggests that the family name likely originated as a nickname or a religious reference during the Middle Ages. By the time the family was firmly established in Milan in 1775, they were part of a vibrant urban society that served as a major crossroads for trade and culture in Northern Italy. Families with this name often held positions within the local merchant class or served in administrative roles that supported the growing economy of the Lombardy region. Because Milan was a center for craftsmanship and commerce, the Croce family likely integrated into the professional life of the city by contributing to its reputation for fine textiles and metalwork. Their presence in official city records from the late 18th century indicates that they were settled, tax-paying citizens who played a steady role in the development of their community during a time of significant political change in Europe.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Crux
A Latin term referring to a wooden frame or cross.
This name
CroceAn occupational or topographic name for someone living near a roadside cross or shrine.
also spelled
Kroce
Kroche
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
De Felice, Emidio. Dizionario dei cognomi italiani. 1978
Archivio di Stato di Milano, Stato civile della Restaurazione, Milano
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cross symbolChristian faith and service
cross symbolChristian faith and service
