A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Delfini family of Italy.
Reg. 9373 · Italian, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
dolphinSwiftness, charity and love
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Parti d'arg. et d'azur: à un dauphin nageant d'or, br. sur le parti.”
VeniceFlorence · Venice, c. 1775
Where the Delfini Arms Were Recorded
Venice
Map of Italy showing where the Delfini arms are recorded
The Delfini arms were recorded in Venice, c. 1775.
Venice ran on trade, and its great families were merchants before they were anything else. The city kept a formal list of its noble houses, and a name on that list carried arms as a matter of record.
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 Delfini 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 Venice.
Origin & History of the Delfini Family in Italy
The Delfini family name originates from the Italian word for dolphin, a creature that has long symbolized intelligence and grace in Mediterranean culture. By the time the family was firmly established in Venice in 1775, they were part of a long tradition of families who used nature-inspired names to reflect their connection to the sea. Venice was a major hub for trade and politics, and families like the Delfini often played active roles in the city's complex social structure. While the name itself carries a sense of nobility, the family members were primarily known for their contributions to the local economy and the civic life of the Venetian Republic. Their presence in the city during the late 18th century highlights a period when Venice was transitioning through significant political changes, and the Delfini name remained a consistent part of the local historical landscape.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Delphinus
Latin term for a dolphin or a sea mammal.
This name
DelfiniDerived from a medieval personal name signifying a connection to the dolphin, often associated with nobility or heraldry.
also spelled
Delfino
Delfin
Delfinii
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tassini, Giuseppe, Curiosità veneziane ovvero origini delle denominazioni stradali di Venezia, 1863
Archivio di Stato di Venezia, Anagrafe di Venezia, 1775
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dolphinSwiftness, charity and love
dolphinSwiftness, charity and love
