A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Donà family of Italy.
Reg. 6126 · Italian, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 deux fasces voûtées d'arg.”
ItalyVicence, c. 1775
Where the Donà Arms Were Recorded
Vicence
Map of Italy showing where the Donà arms are recorded
The Donà arms were recorded in Vicence, c. 1775.
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 Donà 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 Italy.
Origin & History of the Donà Family in Italy
The Donà family name is deeply rooted in the history of the Veneto region of Italy. While the name is famously associated with the nobility of Venice, branches of the family also established themselves in inland cities like Vicenza. By 1775, records confirm that members of the Donà family were active and well-settled in the Vicenza area. During this period, families of this status were often involved in the management of agricultural estates and local civic administration. The name itself is thought to be a shortened form of the name Donato, which means given by God. This suggests that the family’s origins trace back to a common ancestor who held this name during the Middle Ages. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric, contributing to the economic and cultural life of the towns where they lived.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Donatus
Latin for given or gifted by God.
This name
DonàA Venetian patronymic surname indicating a descendant of someone named Donato.
Related arms
Dohnavariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Gullino, Giuseppe, I Donà di Venezia: una famiglia nella storia della Repubblica, 2005
Mantese, Giovanni, Memorie storiche della Chiesa vicentina, 1974
Archivio di Stato di Vicenza, Anagrafe storica della città di Vicenza
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
