A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Decano family of Germany.
Reg. 8344 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Ec.: au 1 de sa. au griffon cont. d'or, cour. du même, tenant une épée au nat; aux 2 et 3 d'azur à une ancre d'or, accostée de deux étoiles du même; au 4 de sa. au lion cour., tenant de sa patte dextre une ancre abaissée, le tout d'or. Sur le tout de gu. au chev., acc. en p. de trois los. mal-ordonnées, le tout d'or; ledit surtout bordé d'or. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1° le lion du 4, iss.; l. d'or et d'azur; 2° le griffon du 1, iss., tourné à dextre; l. d'or et de sa.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1768
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Map of Germany showing where the Decano arms are recorded
The Decano arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1768.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit in the registers.
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 Germany in this period.
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
1765–1790
Reigning in Germany when the Decano arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
In the Holy Roman Empire, coats of arms were often granted to individuals by the Emperor or his representatives. These arms were then passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants of the original holder. Younger branches of a family usually kept the same shield design without needing to change it, as the arms belonged to the entire lineage.
Granting authority
The Holy Roman Emperor held the sole power to grant new coats of arms throughout his vast imperial territories.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal imperial grant or by proving their noble status to the authorities.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Imperial Chancery registers, which began keeping formal records of such honors during the Middle Ages.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Bavaria.
Origin & History of the Decano Family in Germany
The family name Decano carries a history deeply rooted in the cultural landscape of eighteenth-century Bavaria. By 1768, records confirm that members of this family were already established within the region, living during a time when surnames often reflected the social roles or professional statuses of the individuals who bore them. The name itself suggests a historical connection to the Latin term decanus, which historically referred to a leader of a group of ten or a person holding a position of oversight within a community or religious organization. As these early ancestors navigated the shifting political and social structures of the Bavarian territories, they likely served as local administrators or respected figures within their parishes. Their presence in the historical record during this period highlights a family that was integrated into the fabric of village life, contributing to the local economy and the development of their community long before the modern era.
Decano Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Decanus
Latin term for a leader of ten people or a dean.
This name
DecanoAn occupational surname for someone who held the position of a dean or church official.
also spelled
Can
Dekan
Dean
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
lionCourage, strength and royalty
