A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ferri family of Italy.
swordJustice, and military honourJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'azur à une épée d'arg.”
The Ferri arms were recorded in Gènes, 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.
Reigning in Italy when the Ferri arms are first recorded.
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.
The family name Ferri is deeply rooted in the linguistic traditions of Northern Italy, where it evolved from the Latin word ferrum, meaning iron. Historically, this name likely served as a descriptive occupational surname for individuals who worked as blacksmiths or ironmongers. By the late eighteenth century, the family established a notable presence in the port city of Genoa, which was then the capital of the Republic of Genoa. Records confirm that members of the Ferri family were active in this region by 1775, likely participating in the vibrant maritime trade and commercial networks that defined the city at that time. As Genoa served as a major gateway for goods moving between the Mediterranean and the rest of Europe, the family likely benefited from the city's role as a center for banking and craftsmanship. This early history reflects a lineage tied to the industrious nature of the Italian workforce during a period of significant economic transition.
The Latin word for iron or a metal tool.
