A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gianni family of Italy.
Reg. 9804 · Italian, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg., au chef d'azur, ch. de deux aigles du champ.”
ProvenceFlorence · Provence, c. 1775
Where the Gianni Arms Were Recorded
Map of Italy showing where the Gianni arms are recorded
The Gianni arms were recorded in Provence, c. 1775.
Provence was old country, with towns dating to the Romans and families who traced their land back nearly as far. Its gentry were many and long-settled, and long settlement is what fills a register.
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 Gianni 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 Provence.
Origin & History of the Gianni Family in Italy
The name Gianni is a classic Italian patronymic, which means it evolved from the given name Gianni, a common short form of Giovanni or John. By the late 18th century, families bearing this name had established a firm presence in the Provence region of France. This migration was likely driven by the close geographic and cultural ties between Northern Italy and Southern France, where families frequently crossed borders for trade, agricultural work, or seasonal migration. Settling in Provence by 1775, the Gianni family would have integrated into a society defined by Mediterranean commerce and local rural traditions. Over time, the name transitioned from being a way to identify a specific person to a permanent hereditary surname that anchored the family within their new French community.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Yochanan
Hebrew for God is gracious
This name
GianniAn Italian diminutive form of John meaning God is gracious
also spelled
Gianny
Jani
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Archives départementales des Bouches-du-Rhône, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil (Collection communale), 1775
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
