A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Di Gioia family of Italy.
Reg. 3754 · Italian, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
leafHappiness and abundance
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 coupé: a. palé d'arg. et de sin.; b. d'arg. à trois touffes de feuilles de sin., rangées en fasce et chaque touffe posée en fasce; aux 2 et 3 d'arg. au lion d'or, acc. de six fleurs-de-lis du même, 4 dans les cantons, 1 en chef et 1 en p.”
VeniceVenice, 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 Di Gioia arms are recorded
The Di Gioia 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 Di Gioia 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 Di Gioia Family in Italy
The surname Di Gioia is a classic Italian patronymic name, which means it was originally derived from the given name of a male ancestor. The name translates to "of Joy" or "son of Joy," likely originating as a nickname for a person with a cheerful or optimistic disposition. By 1775, records confirm that members of the Di Gioia family were established in Venice, a city that served as a major hub for trade and cultural exchange during the late eighteenth century. Families living in Venice at this time were often involved in the city’s thriving maritime commerce or its sophisticated artisan guilds. While the name is found throughout various regions of Italy, its presence in Venice suggests that these early ancestors were part of a society that valued both artistic expression and international business connections. This history reflects a lineage that moved through the social and economic shifts of Northern Italy during the final years of the Venetian Republic.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gaudium
Latin term meaning joy, gladness, or delight.
This name
Di GioiaDerived from a medieval personal name meaning of joy or joyful.
also spelled
Digioia
Digioyosa
di Joyosa
Joyosa
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
De Felice, Emidio. Dizionario dei cognomi italiani. 1978
State Archives of Venice (Archivio di Stato di Venezia), Anagrafi di cittadini e forestieri
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
leafHappiness and abundance
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
leafHappiness and abundance
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
