A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Foro family of Italy.
Reg. 5067 · Italian, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
lionCourage, strength and royalty
swordJustice, and military honour
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé: au 1 parti: a. d'arg. à la croix de sa., ch. d'une étoile d'arg.; b. d'azur au lion d'or, tenant une épée renv. de sa.; au 2 de gu. à une cou-”
Italyc. 1775
Where the Foro Arms Were Recorded
Venice
Map of Italy showing where the Foro arms are recorded
The Foro 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 Foro 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 Foro Family in Italy
The Foro family name has deep roots in the vibrant maritime culture of Venice, where records confirm their presence by at least 1775. During this era, Venice functioned as a bustling hub of trade and craftsmanship, and families like the Foro were often integrated into the city’s complex social and economic fabric. The name itself likely shares linguistic ties to the Italian word for a forum or a public square, suggesting that early ancestors may have been associated with the central marketplaces or administrative districts that defined Venetian life. As residents of a city built on water and commerce, members of the Foro family were likely involved in the specialized guilds or merchant networks that allowed the Republic of Venice to maintain its influence across the Mediterranean. By living in such a dense urban environment, the family would have participated in the unique traditions and daily rhythms of a society defined by its artistic achievements and its strategic position as a gateway between East and West.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Forum
A public square or marketplace in ancient Roman cities.
This name
ForoRefers to a person who lived near or worked within a town square.
also spelled
Forro
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archivio di Stato di Venezia, Anagrafi di Popolazione, 1775
Lane, Frederic C., Venice, A Maritime Republic, 1973
Norwich, John Julius, A History of Venice, 1982
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
lionCourage, strength and royalty
swordJustice, and military honour
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
lionCourage, strength and royalty
swordJustice, and military honour
