A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ferrara family of Belgium.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's crossJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'or au saut. d'azur.”
The Ferrara arms were recorded in Brabant, c. 1737.
Brabant lay at the heart of the Low Countries, where the trade routes met. Its towns were wealthy and its landowners many, and both kinds of family kept arms, which is why the region is so heavily represented.
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.
Reigning in Belgium when the Ferrara arms are first recorded.
In Belgium, a coat of arms is considered personal property that is passed down through the male line to legitimate descendants. Families often use the same shield design across generations to show their shared heritage. If a branch of the family wants to change the design, they must apply for an official update to their specific version of the arms.
The surname Ferrara is primarily associated with the Italian city of Ferrara, which served as a major cultural center during the Renaissance. Families who adopted this name often did so to signify their origins from this specific region or to honor the powerful Este family who ruled the city for centuries. By the early 18th century, the name had traveled far beyond the Italian peninsula as trade routes and military movements encouraged migration across Europe. Records confirm that members of the family were established in the Duchy of Brabant by 1737. During this period, Brabant was a bustling hub of commerce and manufacturing, making it an ideal destination for families seeking new economic opportunities. The presence of the Ferrara name in this region suggests that these early ancestors were likely involved in the merchant classes or skilled trades that defined the social landscape of the Low Countries at that time.
The Latin word for iron or a metal-based material.
