A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the di Stefano family of Italy.
Reg. 6836 · Italian, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
cometA great event foretold, and swift renown
Colours
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)
“D'azur à une tour d'or, sommée de deux tourelles du même, acc. en chef d'une comète du sec., la queue en bas.”
SicilySicily, c. 1775
Where the di Stefano Arms Were Recorded
Sicily
Map of Italy showing where the di Stefano arms are recorded
The di Stefano arms were recorded in Sicily, c. 1775.
Sicily was ruled in turn by Normans, Germans, French and Spanish, and each left landed families behind. The island kept formal lists of its noble houses, which is why so many Sicilian names carry recorded 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 di Stefano 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 Sicily.
Origin & History of the di Stefano Family in Italy
The surname Di Stefano is a patronymic name, which means it was originally created to identify a person as the son of someone named Stefano. In the Italian language, the prefix "di" translates to "of" or "from," indicating that the family line was established by an ancestor who bore the name Stefano, the Italian version of Stephen. By the year 1775, records confirm that members of the Di Stefano family were well-established residents of Sicily. During this period, Sicily was a society deeply rooted in agricultural traditions and local parish life. Families like the Di Stefanos often lived in small, tight-knit communities where their name served as a clear link to their direct ancestors. Because the name was based on a common given name, it emerged independently in various regions of Italy, though the Sicilian branch developed its own distinct history within the island’s unique cultural landscape.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Stephanos
Greek word meaning crown, garland, or wreath.
This name
di StefanoPatronymic surname indicating descent from a person named Stephen.
also spelled
Dystefano
Stefano
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
De Felice, Emidio. Dizionario dei cognomi italiani. 1978
Fucile, Salvatore. I cognomi della Sicilia. 1999
Archivio di Stato di Palermo, Stato Civile della Restaurazione
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
cometA great event foretold, and swift renown
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
cometA great event foretold, and swift renown
