A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the De Lima family of Italy.
Reg. 0433 · Italian, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. à la fasce d'arg.; au lion d'or, cour. du même, br. sur le tout, tenant de sa patte dextre la garde d'une épée en pal et de sa sen. la lame de ladite épée. Cq. cour. C.: quatre pl. d'aut.: de sa., d'or, d'arg. et de gu. L.: à dextre d'or et de sa., à sen. d'arg. et de gu.”
DalmatiaDalmatia, c. 1775
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Map of Italy showing where the De Lima arms are recorded
The De Lima arms were recorded in Dalmatia, c. 1775.
Dalmatia was a string of walled towns along the Adriatic coast, each with its own leading families. Sea trade made them wealthy, and the towns kept lists of the houses entitled to arms.
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 Lima 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 Dalmatia.
Origin & History of the De Lima Family in Italy
The name De Lima is traditionally associated with the Iberian Peninsula, but historical records confirm that members of the family were established in the coastal region of Dalmatia by 1775. During this period, Dalmatia served as a vital crossroads for trade and cultural exchange between the Mediterranean world and the Balkan interior. Families like the De Limas often moved across these maritime routes to participate in the thriving merchant networks of the Adriatic ports. By settling in this region, they integrated into a unique society that blended local Slavic traditions with long-standing Italian and Venetian influences. Their presence in Dalmatian administrative and parish records from the late eighteenth century highlights a history of migration and adaptation within a complex and changing European landscape.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
limus
Latin term meaning mud, slime, or silt.
This name
De LimaRefers to a person who lived near a muddy area or riverbank.
also spelled
de Lamma
de Lamah
de Lammah
Lama
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Kurelac, Iva. Povijest obitelji i rodoslovlja u Dalmaciji. 2012
State Archives in Zadar, Matice krštenih i vjenčanih (Parish registers of baptisms and marriages), 1775
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
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
