A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fornari family of Italy.
Reg. 4994 · Italian, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“De sa. à un griffon d'or. C.: le griffon, iss.”
ItalyMilan, c. 1775
Where the Fornari Arms Were Recorded
Milan
Map of Italy showing where the Fornari arms are recorded
The Fornari arms were recorded in Milan, 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.
Alvise Giovanni Mocenigo
Sovereign of the period
Alvise Giovanni Mocenigo
1763–1778
Reigning in Italy when the Fornari 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 Fornari Family in Italy
The surname Fornari originates from the Italian word for a baker, which is *fornaio*. During the Middle Ages, surnames were often created to describe a person’s trade, and this name likely identified a family that operated a local bakery or managed a communal oven. By the year 1775, the Fornari family was well-established in Milan, a city known for its vibrant trade guilds and bustling urban markets. Living in a major center like Milan suggests that the family was part of the growing middle class that supported the city’s economy through skilled labor and commerce. Over time, the name evolved from a simple job title into a permanent family identity, marking the transition from a specific occupation to a lasting lineage that remained rooted in the Lombardy region for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
fornarius
Latin term referring to a person who works with an oven.
This name
FornariAn occupational surname for a baker or someone who operated a kiln.
also spelled
Fornary
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
De Felice, Emidio. Dizionario dei cognomi italiani. 1978
State Archives of Milan (Archivio di Stato di Milano), Stato Civile della Restaurazione
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
