A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the de Francesco family of Italy.
Reg. 8560 · Italian, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
dolphinSwiftness, charity and love
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé: au 1 d'azur à un dauphin d'arg. nageant dans une mer houleuse du même, agitée de sa., surm. d'une aigie d'or, cour. à l'antique du même; au 2 d'or à trois barres de gu., à la fasce diminuée du même, br. sur les barres.”
ItalyPalerme, c. 1775
Where the de Francesco Arms Were Recorded
Palerme
Map of Italy showing where the de Francesco arms are recorded
The de Francesco arms were recorded in Palerme, 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 de Francesco 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 de Francesco Family in Italy
The surname de Francesco is a patronymic name, which means it was originally derived from the given name Francesco, meaning "the Frenchman" or "the free one." In the context of 18th-century Sicily, the use of the "de" prefix often signified a family’s connection to a specific lineage or a place of origin. By 1775, records confirm that members of the de Francesco family were established residents of Palermo. During this period, Palermo was a bustling Mediterranean hub under the rule of the Bourbon kings. Families like the de Francescos were likely integrated into the city’s social fabric as merchants, artisans, or landowners who contributed to the vibrant urban life of the Sicilian capital. Their presence in the city archives suggests they were part of the documented population that navigated the complex legal and social systems of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Franciscus
A Latin name meaning a Frenchman or a free man.
This name
de FrancescoPatronymic surname indicating descent from an ancestor named Francesco.
also spelled
Defrancesc
de Fransesko
Francesco
Related arms
Avarnarecorded with de Francesco, same area
Bonorecorded with de Francesco, same area
Galletti de Platamonerecorded with de Francesco, same area
Ginsinorecorded with de Francesco, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
De Felice, Emidio. Dizionario dei cognomi italiani. 1978
Fiume, Giovanna. Il santo patrono: Rosalia e Palermo. 2009
Archivio di Stato di Palermo, Stato Civile della Restaurazione
Archivio Storico Comunale di Palermo, Fondo Censimento della popolazione
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
dolphinSwiftness, charity and love
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
dolphinSwiftness, charity and love
