A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Donini family of Italy.
Reg. 9991 · Italian, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
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)
“Fascé d'or et d'azur; au chef du sec., ch. d'un soleil accosté de deux étoiles, le tout du premier émail.”
VeniceVenice, c. 1775
Where the Donini Arms Were Recorded
Venice
Map of Italy showing where the Donini arms are recorded
The Donini 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 Donini 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 Donini Family in Italy
The Donini family name traces its roots to the northern regions of Italy, with a significant presence established in Venice by the late eighteenth century. The name itself likely originated as a diminutive form of names ending in "don," such as Donato, which was a common practice in medieval Italy to distinguish younger family members or children within a household. By 1775, records indicate that the family was well-integrated into the social and economic fabric of Venice, a city defined by its vibrant maritime trade and complex guild systems. During this era, families like the Doninis often participated in the local artisan or merchant classes that kept the city functioning as a major European hub. Their presence in Venetian archives during this period suggests they were established citizens who navigated the unique political landscape of the Republic of Venice before its eventual transition under foreign rule.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Donato
Derived from the Latin word donatus meaning given or gifted.
This name
DoniniA patronymic or diminutive form indicating descent from a person named Donato.
also spelled
Doniny
Doninnie
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archivio di Stato di Venezia, Anagrafe e Stato Civile
Archivio di Stato di Venezia, Avogaria di Comun
Emidio De Felice, Dizionario dei cognomi italiani, 1978
Giuseppe Tassini, Curiosità veneziane ovvero origini delle denominazioni stradali di Venezia, 1863
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
