di Gennaro Coat of Arms Record & History

A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the di Gennaro family of Italy.

Reg. 5934 · Italian, D–F

Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details

Symbols on this shield

chevronProtection, and faithful service completed

chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion

bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander

lionCourage, strength and royalty

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. au chev. d'or; au chef du même, ch. d'un lion iss. du champ, arm. et lamp. d'azur. - Ou: De gu. au lion d'or; à la bande d'azur. br. sur le lion.”

NaplesNaples, c. 1775

Where the di Gennaro Arms Were Recorded

Naples

Map of Italy showing where the di Gennaro arms are recorded

The di Gennaro arms were recorded in Naples, c. 1775.

Naples was the largest city in Italy and the seat of a kingdom. Its noble houses were numerous, and the kingdom kept formal lists of the families entitled to arms, which is why so many appear in the records.

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.

Region: Naples
First recorded: 1775

Granting Authority for the di Gennaro Arms

Authority

The Italian states

before 1861

The body that granted and recorded arms in Italy in this period.

Sovereign of the period

Alvise Giovanni Mocenigo

1763–1778

Reigning in Italy when the di Gennaro 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 Naples.

Origin & History of the di Gennaro Family in Italy

The surname Di Gennaro is deeply rooted in the history of Southern Italy, specifically within the vibrant culture of Naples. The name is a patronymic, meaning it was originally formed to identify a person as the son or descendant of someone named Gennaro. This given name honors Saint Januarius, known in Italian as San Gennaro, who is the beloved patron saint of Naples. By the time the family was documented in Naples in 1775, the name had already become well-established among the local population. Families bearing this name were often integrated into the social and economic fabric of the city, participating in the trades and civic life that defined the Neapolitan kingdom during the eighteenth century. Because the name is so closely tied to the city’s most famous saint, it carries a strong sense of regional identity that has persisted for generations.