A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Giordani family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 6296 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 de gu. à la bande ondée d'arg.; aux 2 et 3 d'azur à un griffon d'arg. Cq. cour. C.: une aigle de sa., bq. et m. d'or. L.: à dextre d'arg. et de gu., à sen. d'arg. et d'azur.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Giordani Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Giordani arms are recorded
The Giordani arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit in the registers.
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 Germany in this period.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Giordani arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
In the Holy Roman Empire, coats of arms were often granted to individuals by the Emperor or his representatives. These arms were then passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants of the original holder. Younger branches of a family usually kept the same shield design without needing to change it, as the arms belonged to the entire lineage.
Granting authority
The Holy Roman Emperor held the sole power to grant new coats of arms throughout his vast imperial territories.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal imperial grant or by proving their noble status to the authorities.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Imperial Chancery registers, which began keeping formal records of such honors during the Middle Ages.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Germany.
Origin & History of the Giordani Family in Germany
The surname Giordani traces its roots to the Italian variation of the name Jordan, which became established in German-speaking regions through trade routes and cultural exchange. By the mid-eighteenth century, members of the family were documented as residents of Bavaria, a region known for its strong administrative record-keeping during the era of the Holy Roman Empire. These early settlers likely integrated into the local economy as skilled craftsmen or merchants, as the name appears in regional census and parish registers from 1765. Because the name was associated with the baptismal tradition of honoring the Jordan River, it carried a sense of historical continuity that allowed the family to blend into the social fabric of southern Germany. Over time, the Giordani family became part of the local Bavarian community, contributing to the professional and civic life of the region while maintaining the unique linguistic heritage of their ancestral name.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
Colours
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'arg. à deux fasces de gu.”
VeniceVenice, c. 1775
Where the Giordani Arms Were Recorded
Venice
Map of Italy showing where the Giordani arms are recorded
The Giordani 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 Germany when the Giordani 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 Giordani Family in Italy
The surname Giordani traces its roots to the personal name Giordano, which became popular across Italy during the Middle Ages due to the religious significance of the Jordan River. As a patronymic name, it identified individuals as the sons or descendants of a man named Giordano. By the late eighteenth century, the family established a notable presence in the Republic of Venice. During this period, Venice served as a major hub for trade and intellectual exchange, allowing families like the Giordani to integrate into the city's complex social and economic structures. While the name is found in various regions across the Italian peninsula, its documentation in Venetian records from 1775 highlights the family's participation in the vibrant urban life of one of Europe’s most influential maritime powers before the fall of the Republic.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Jordanus
Derived from the Hebrew name Yarden meaning to flow down or descend.
This name
GiordaniAn Italian patronymic surname signifying descendant of Giordano, a variant of the biblical river name.
also spelled
Giordanie
Giordanii
Giordan
Jordani
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, General-Landes-Direktion, Akten der kurfürstlichen Regierung, 1765
Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Wissenschaft und Kunst, Historisches Lexikon Bayerns, 2006
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1882
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
