A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Frangipani family of Italy.
Reg. 3352 · Italian, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 gu. à deux lions affr. d'or, tenant de leurs pattes un pain arrondi du même.”
ItalyRome, c. 1775
Where the Frangipani Arms Were Recorded
Rome
Map of Italy showing where the Frangipani arms are recorded
The Frangipani arms were recorded in Rome, 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 Frangipani 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 Frangipani Family in Italy
The Frangipani family name carries a long and storied legacy that traces its roots back to the heart of medieval Rome. Historians often link the origins of the name to the Latin phrase frangere panem, which translates to breaking bread. This suggests that early members of the family were known for their charitable acts and their willingness to share food with the poor during times of famine. By the time the family was firmly established in Roman society by the late eighteenth century, they had already spent generations building influence within the city. They were deeply connected to the political and social life of the region, often serving as prominent figures who helped shape the local community. Their presence in Rome in 1775 reflects a long-standing tradition of residency that allowed the family to remain a fixture of the city for centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
frangere panem
Latin phrase meaning to break bread.
This name
FrangipaniRefers to one who breaks bread, historically associated with charitable distribution of food.
also spelled
Frangipane
Frangipanny
Frangipany
Franjipanee
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Gregorovius, Ferdinand. Geschichte der Stadt Rom im Mittelalter. 1859
Re, Nicola Maria. Memorie storiche della famiglia Frangipane. 1803
Archivio di Stato di Roma, Stato civile della restaurazione
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
