A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gambaro family of Italy.
Reg. 9686 · Italian, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
crabSteadfast defence that yields no ground
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“Coupé: au 1 d'arg. à une écrevisse de gu., posée en fasce, et un pal de sin., br. sur l'écrevisse; au 2 d'azur à trois bes. d'or.”
VeniceVenice, c. 1775
Where the Gambaro Arms Were Recorded
Venice
Map of Italy showing where the Gambaro arms are recorded
The Gambaro arms were recorded in Venice, c. 1775.
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 Gambaro 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 Venice.
Origin & History of the Gambaro Family in Italy
The Gambaro family name is deeply rooted in the history of the Venetian Republic, where members of the family were firmly established by 1775. The name itself is derived from the Italian word *gambero*, which means crayfish or shrimp. In medieval and early modern Italy, it was common for surnames to evolve from nicknames that described a person’s physical traits or their trade. It is likely that an early ancestor was either a fisherman who specialized in catching shellfish in the Venetian Lagoon or someone known for a distinct physical characteristic. By the late 18th century, the family was part of the vibrant social and economic life of Venice, a city defined by its maritime trade and complex social hierarchy. Living in a city built on water, the Gambaro family would have been surrounded by the daily commerce of the canals, which likely shaped their early history and professional pursuits within the city.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gamba
A Latin term referring to the leg or hock of an animal.
This name
GambaroA nickname for a person with distinctive or long legs.
also spelled
Gambare
Gambara
Gambari
Related arms
Gambaravariant spelling
Gambarivariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tassini, Giuseppe, Curiosità veneziane, 1863
Archivio di Stato di Venezia, Anagrafi di popolazione, 1775
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
crabSteadfast defence that yields no ground
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
crabSteadfast defence that yields no ground
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
