A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the del Prato family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
goatOne who wins by diplomacy rather than forceJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“De sin. à une chèvre arrêtée d'arg.”
The del Prato arms were recorded in Belg, c. 1722.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Castile.
Castile was the heart of Spain and the source of most of its noble families. Land won in the long wars against the Moors was granted out to fighting men, and a man granted land was granted arms along with it.
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 Spain in this period.
Reigning in Spain when the del Prato arms are first recorded.
In Spain, a coat of arms was considered a form of property that belonged to the entire family line. These arms were passed down from a father to all his children equally. Younger branches of the family usually kept the original design without needing to add any special marks to distinguish their specific line.
The family name del Prato carries a history deeply rooted in the landscape of the Iberian Peninsula, specifically within the historic region of Castile. By the early eighteenth century, records confirm that members of the family were firmly established in this area, which served as the political and cultural heart of Spain during that era. The name itself is topographical in origin, suggesting that the family’s earliest ancestors were likely associated with living near a meadow or a field, known in various Romance languages as a "prato." During the year 1722, the presence of the family in Castile indicates they were part of a society transitioning through the Bourbon reforms, which sought to centralize administration and modernize the Spanish state. As residents of Castile, these early family members would have navigated a period defined by agricultural development and the shifting social structures of the Spanish interior. Their survival and documentation in this region highlight a long-standing connection to the land and the specific administrative record-keeping practices that defined life in eighteenth-century Spain.
womanGrace, and the founding of a houseJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'azur à une femme de carn., posée de front, tenant de sa main dextre une fleur-de-lis et posant la sen. sur son ventre.”
The del Prato arms were recorded in Padoue, 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.
Reigning in Spain when the del Prato arms are first recorded.
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.
The surname Del Prato is a topographic name, which means it was originally given to families who lived near a specific type of land. In Italian, the name translates to "of the meadow," suggesting that the earliest ancestors likely worked as farmers or lived on a prominent field near their local village. By the late 18th century, the family had established a notable presence in the city of Padua. During this period, Padua was a major center for education and trade under the influence of the Venetian Republic. Families living in the city at that time often participated in the local guilds or served in administrative roles that kept the city running. As the family name became more fixed in public records by 1775, it reflected a transition from simple rural origins to a more settled urban life within the social fabric of the Veneto region.
Latin term referring to a meadow or field.
