A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dandolo family of Italy.
Reg. 9548 · Italian, D–F
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)
“Coupé d'arg. sur gu. (ou, le gu. ch. d'une croisette pattée d'arg.)”
Italyc. 1775
Where the Dandolo Arms Were Recorded
Venice
Map of Italy showing where the Dandolo arms are recorded
The Dandolo 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 Dandolo 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 Dandolo Family in Italy
The Dandolo family is one of the most significant lineages in the history of Venice, with their presence in the city dating back to the early medieval period. While records confirm their deep involvement in Venetian society by the late eighteenth century, the family rose to prominence much earlier as part of the original Venetian nobility. They were instrumental in shaping the political and maritime power of the Venetian Republic, providing the state with several influential leaders known as doges. The family name became synonymous with the growth of Venice as a major trading hub, as members of the house frequently held high-ranking positions in the government and military. Their history is closely tied to the expansion of Venetian influence across the Mediterranean, reflecting a legacy of public service and leadership that spanned many centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dandolo
Derived from the Venetian dialect form of the name Dandolo.
This name
DandoloA diminutive or hypocoristic form of the personal name Andrea, meaning manly or brave.
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Lane, Frederic C., Venice, A Maritime Republic, 1973
Madden, Thomas F., Enrico Dandolo and the Rise of Venice, 2003
Archivio di Stato di Venezia, Archivio Dandolo, 12th–18th centuries
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cross symbolChristian faith and service
cross symbolChristian faith and service
