A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Foglia family of Italy.
Reg. 3994 · Italian, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
grapesPlenty, and the labour of the vine
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec. en saut.: en chef de gu. à une étoile (5) d'arg.; à dextre d'azur à une feuille de vigne d'or; à sen. d'or à une feuille de vigne d'azur; en p. d'arg. à une feuille de vigne de gu., toutes les feuilles les tiges en bas.”
Italyc. 1775
Where the Foglia Arms Were Recorded
Venice
Map of Italy showing where the Foglia arms are recorded
The Foglia 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 Foglia 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 Foglia Family in Italy
The surname Foglia originates from the Italian word for leaf, which suggests that the family name likely began as a descriptive nickname for an ancestor who lived near a prominent tree or worked in a trade related to plants. By 1775, historical records confirm that members of the Foglia family were well established within the city of Venice. During this era, Venice was a bustling center of trade and culture, and families living there were often deeply connected to the maritime economy or the intricate guilds that defined city life. Because the name is rooted in nature, it reflects a common naming tradition in Italy where surnames were derived from the local landscape or the physical traits of an individual. As the family grew, they became part of the unique social fabric of the Venetian Republic, contributing to the history of a city defined by its canals and its long-standing influence on Mediterranean commerce.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
folium
Latin term referring to a leaf or foliage of a plant.
This name
FogliaAn occupational or topographic surname denoting someone who lived near or worked with leaves.
also spelled
Fogli
Folia
Foleea
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
De Felice, Emidio. Dizionario dei cognomi italiani. 1978
Archivio di Stato di Venezia, Anagrafe di Venezia, Registri di popolazione
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
grapesPlenty, and the labour of the vine
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
grapesPlenty, and the labour of the vine
