Fontanelli Coat of Arms Record & History

A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fontanelli family of Italy.

Reg. 6447 · Italian, D–F

Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details

Symbols on this shield

chequyConstancy, and the counting-board

swordJustice, and military honour

roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace

towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended

Colours

Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth

Gold (Or)Means: Generosity

Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity

Red (Gules)Means: Military strength

Historical info

Source

J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87

Blazon (the actual original written record)

“Ec.: au 1 d'azur à une épée d'arg., garnie d'or; au 2 échiq. d'or et de sa., de vingt-cinq points; au 3 d'arg. à trois roses naturelles de gu. (sans tiges); au 4 d'azur à une tour d'arg., maçonnée de sa., ouv. du champ.”

Italyc. 1775

Where the Fontanelli Arms Were Recorded

Venice

Map of Italy showing where the Fontanelli arms are recorded

The Fontanelli 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.

Region: Venice
First recorded: 1775

Granting Authority for the Fontanelli Arms

Authority

The Italian states

before 1861

The body that granted and recorded arms in Italy in this period.

Sovereign of the period

Alvise Giovanni Mocenigo

1763–1778

Reigning in Italy when the Fontanelli 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 Fontanelli Family in Italy

The surname Fontanelli originates from the Italian word "fontana," which means fountain or spring. Historically, this name was often given to families who lived near a prominent water source or worked as keepers of public fountains. By the late 18th century, the Fontanelli family had established a notable presence in Venice. During this era, Venice was a bustling center of trade and culture, and families living there were often involved in the city's complex maritime economy or its thriving artisan guilds. Being present in Venice in 1775 suggests that the family was well-integrated into the social fabric of the Venetian Republic just before its decline. Over time, the name spread through various regions of Italy, reflecting the movement of people who sought new opportunities while carrying the identity of their ancestral roots.