A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Desideri family of France.
peacockBeauty, power and knowledgeJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'azur à un paon rouant d'or.”
The Desideri arms were recorded in Provence, c. 1663.
Provence was old country, with towns dating to the Romans and families who traced their land back nearly as far. Its gentry were many and long-settled, and long settlement is what fills a register.
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 France in this period.
Reigning in France when the Desideri arms are first recorded.
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
The surname Desideri finds its roots in the Latin word desiderium, which translates to longing or desire. This name was often given to individuals as a way to express that a child was a long-awaited blessing to their parents. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the Desideri family were well-established in the Provence region of France. During this period, families in Provence were deeply connected to the local agricultural economy and the social structures of small village life. As the name spread through the Mediterranean landscape, it became associated with families who valued community ties and local trade. The history of the name reflects a transition from a personal expression of hope into a lasting family identity that persisted across generations in the southern French countryside.
Latin term meaning longing, desire, or a wish for something.
