A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Delima 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
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Italy showing where the Delima arms are recorded
The Delima 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 Delima 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 Delima Family in Italy
The surname Delima traces its origins to the rugged coastal region of Dalmatia, where records confirm the family was established by at least 1775. The name likely evolved as a geographical identifier, distinguishing individuals who hailed from the Dalmatian territory along the Adriatic Sea. During the late 18th century, families in this region often lived in small, tightly knit maritime communities that relied on trade and fishing for their survival. As these early ancestors moved or interacted with neighboring regions, the name served as a link to their ancestral home. Over time, the name became a permanent marker of their identity, reflecting a history deeply rooted in the cultural and linguistic landscape of the eastern Adriatic coast.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
de lima
derived from the latin word limus meaning mud or silt
This name
Delimarefers to a person who lived near a muddy area or a 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
Kovačić, Slavko. Povijest župa Splitske nadbiskupije (1998)
State Archives in Split, Matice krštenih (Baptismal Registers) of the Dalmatian Parishes, 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
