A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cupelli family of Italy.
Reg. 7442 · Italian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
labelThe eldest son, during his father's life
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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'azur à un mont de trois coupeaux de sin., mouv. de la p. et surm. de trois gobelets mal-ordonnés de gu.; au chef du premier, ch. de trois fleurs-de-lis d'or, rangées entre les quatre pendants d'un lambel de gu.”
ItalyBologne, c. 1775
Where the Cupelli Arms Were Recorded
Bologne
Map of Italy showing where the Cupelli arms are recorded
The Cupelli arms were recorded in Bologne, 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 Cupelli 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 Cupelli Family in Italy
The Cupelli family name finds its historical roots in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, with documented evidence placing members of the family in the city of Bologna by 1775. The name is believed to be a patronymic or occupational surname derived from the Italian word "cupa," which historically referred to a vat, barrel, or deep vessel. This suggests that the earliest ancestors bearing this name may have been skilled artisans or merchants involved in the production or trade of wooden containers, a vital industry in pre-industrial Italian society. By the late 18th century, the family was well-established within the urban fabric of Bologna, a city known for its influential university and thriving guild system. As the family grew, they integrated into the local social and economic life of the region, transitioning from their craft-based origins into various professional roles that defined the middle class of the era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cuppa
A Latin term referring to a cup, goblet, or bowl-shaped vessel.
This name
CupelliA diminutive occupational or descriptive surname for a maker of cups or a person with a round head.
also spelled
Cupely
Cupelly
Cupeli
Related arms
Checcatosimilar arms
Chiaramontisimilar arms
Enyettersimilar arms
Eperjesy de Szaszváros et de Totisimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archivio di Stato di Bologna, Stato civile della Restaurazione
Archivio Arcivescovile di Bologna, Libri dei battesimi
Emidio De Felice, Dizionario dei cognomi italiani, 1978
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
labelThe eldest son, during his father's life
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
labelThe eldest son, during his father's life
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
