A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fan family of Italy.
Reg. 6227 · Italian, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. à la fasce d'or, acc. de trois oiseaux de sin., bq. et m. de gu.”
Italyc. 1775
Where the Fan Arms Were Recorded
Venice
Map of Italy showing where the Fan arms are recorded
The Fan arms were recorded in Italy, c. 1775.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Venice.
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 Fan 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 Fan Family in Italy
The history of the Fan family name is deeply connected to the vibrant social and commercial landscape of eighteenth-century Venice. By 1775, records indicate that members of the family were well-established residents within the city, a time when Venice served as a major hub for trade and cultural exchange. The name itself likely emerged from local linguistic traditions, reflecting the specific regional dialects spoken across the Venetian Republic during that era. Families living in Venice at this time often played active roles in the city's guild systems or maritime businesses, which helped them secure a stable place in society. While the exact origins of the surname remain tied to the unique administrative records of the Venetian state, the presence of the Fan family in the city highlights their integration into one of Europe’s most influential historical centers.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fano
Derived from the Latin Fanum meaning a temple or sacred place.
This name
FanA topographic name for someone who lived near a temple or originated from the city of Fano.
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archivio di Stato di Venezia, Anagrafi di cittadini e forestieri
Lane, Frederic C., Venice, a Maritime Republic, 1973
Ruggiero, Guido, The Boundaries of Eros: Sex Crime and Sexuality in Renaissance Venice, 1985
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
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
