A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Follo family of Italy.
Reg. 8687 · Italian, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
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)
“D'arg. à un arbre de sin., le fût de gu., posé sur un tertre du sec. et accosté de deux étoiles d'or.”
Italyc. 1775
Where the Follo Arms Were Recorded
Venice
Map of Italy showing where the Follo arms are recorded
The Follo 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 Follo 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 Follo Family in Italy
The surname Follo finds its historical roots in the vibrant landscape of Northern Italy, with documented evidence placing the family in Venice by the year 1775. The name is likely topographic in origin, often linked to the Italian word "follo," which historically referred to a fulling mill used in the processing of wool and textiles. Given Venice’s long-standing reputation as a global hub for trade and high-quality fabric production during the eighteenth century, it is probable that early members of the Follo family were skilled artisans or merchants involved in this essential industry. Living in a city defined by its intricate canal systems and maritime commerce, the family would have been part of a dense urban environment that prioritized craftsmanship and trade connections. By establishing themselves in Venice during this period, the Follo family became part of a legacy of skilled labor that helped sustain the economic life of the Venetian Republic before its political transformation at the end of the century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Follis
A Latin term referring to a leather bag or purse.
This name
FolloLikely a topographic name for someone living near a hollow or a valley.
also spelled
Folloe
Follos
Follow
Folo
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archivio di Stato di Venezia, Anagrafi di Popolazione
Tassini, Giuseppe, Curiosità veneziane, 1863
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