A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gerardo family of Italy.
Reg. 9484 · Italian, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cinquefoilHope and joy
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur à deux fasces d'or, acc. de trois quintefeuilles du même.”
VeniceVenice, c. 1775
Where the Gerardo Arms Were Recorded
Venice
Map of Italy showing where the Gerardo arms are recorded
The Gerardo 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 Gerardo 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 Gerardo Family in Italy
The name Gerardo finds its roots in the Germanic language, where it is composed of elements meaning spear and brave or strong. As the name spread across Europe, it became deeply established in Italy, where families bearing the name rose to prominence in various urban centers. By the year 1775, records confirm that members of the Gerardo family were well-integrated into the social and economic fabric of Venice. During this period, Venice was a bustling center of trade and culture, and families like the Gerardos often played roles in the city's maritime commerce or civic administration. The presence of the family in such a significant city suggests they were part of the established middle or merchant classes who helped maintain the unique political and artistic life of the Venetian Republic before its eventual fall at the end of the eighteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gerhard
Derived from Germanic elements meaning spear and hardy or brave.
This name
GerardoA name signifying a brave or strong spearman.
also spelled
Gyrardo
Jirardo
Gerardo
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 Venice (Archivio di Stato di Venezia). Anagrafe di Venezia, Sezione Censimento. 1775
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cinquefoilHope and joy
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cinquefoilHope and joy
