A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gata family of Italy.
Reg. 7193 · Italian, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
labelThe eldest son, during his father's life
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur à une chatte pass. d'arg., la tête posée de front, acc. en chef d'un lambel de gu.”
SicilySicily, c. 1775
Where the Gata Arms Were Recorded
Sicily
Map of Italy showing where the Gata arms are recorded
The Gata arms were recorded in Sicily, c. 1775.
Sicily was ruled in turn by Normans, Germans, French and Spanish, and each left landed families behind. The island kept formal lists of its noble houses, which is why so many Sicilian names carry recorded arms.
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 Gata 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 Sicily.
Origin & History of the Gata Family in Italy
The family name Gata has deep roots in the island of Sicily, where documented records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1775. The name likely originated as a descriptive nickname or a reference to a specific location, as was common practice in southern Italy during the eighteenth century. In the social structure of rural Sicily at that time, families often lived in small, tight-knit agricultural communities where names were passed down through generations to maintain local identity. By the late 1700s, the Gata family was established within the administrative and parish systems of the region, which suggests they were integrated into the local economy and social life of their town. These early ancestors lived through a period of significant cultural transition in Sicily, witnessing the influence of various ruling powers that shaped the island's unique traditions. Their presence in the historical record during this era highlights the enduring nature of family lineages in the Mediterranean world.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cattus
Latin term for a cat or a feline animal.
This name
GataA nickname for a person with cat-like agility or stealthy characteristics.
also spelled
Gata
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archivio di Stato di Palermo, Stato Civile della Restaurazione
Diocesan Archives of Sicily, Libri Parrocchiali di Battesimi e Matrimoni
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labelThe eldest son, during his father's life
lionCourage, strength and royalty
labelThe eldest son, during his father's life
lionCourage, strength and royalty
