A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dei family of Italy.
Reg. 2505 · Italian, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
labelThe eldest son, during his father's life
keyGuardianship, and the office of a steward
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 bande d'or; au chef d'azur, ch. de deux clés, l'une d'or et l'autre d'arg., passées en saut., liées de gu., surmontées de trois fleurs-de-lis d'or, rangées entre les quatre pendants d'un lambel de gu.”
ItalyFlorence, c. 1683
Where the Dei Arms Were Recorded
Florence
Map of Italy showing where the Dei arms are recorded
The Dei arms were recorded in Florence, c. 1683.
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.
Victor Amadeus II of Savoy
Sovereign of the period
Victor Amadeus II of Savoy
1675–1730
Reigning in Italy when the Dei 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 Dei Family in Italy
The family name Dei traces its historical roots to the vibrant cultural landscape of Renaissance and post-Renaissance Florence. By the year 1683, records confirm that members of the Dei family were well-established residents within the city, participating in the complex social and economic life of the Tuscan capital. During this period, Florence was a major center for trade, banking, and the arts, and families like the Dei often integrated themselves into the local merchant classes or civic administration. The name itself is derived from the Italian word for "of the," suggesting that it may have originated as a shortened form of a longer ancestral name or a reference to a specific location or patron. As the family grew, they became part of the enduring fabric of Florentine society, contributing to the city's long legacy of intellectual and commercial development.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Deus
The Latin term for a deity or god.
This name
DeiDerived from the genitive case meaning of God or belonging to God.
also spelled
Deie
Day
Related arms
Massa-Saluzisimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archivio di Stato di Firenze, Tratte di famiglie, 1683
Brucker, Gene, Renaissance Florence, 1969
De Felice, Emidio, Dizionario dei cognomi italiani, 1978
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
labelThe eldest son, during his father's life
keyGuardianship, and the office of a steward
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
labelThe eldest son, during his father's life
keyGuardianship, and the office of a steward
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
