A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Giudice family of Italy.
Reg. 0354 · Italian, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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. de gu. et de sa.; à la croix d'arg., br. sur les écartelures.”
NaplesNaples, c. 1775
Where the Giudice Arms Were Recorded
Naples
Map of Italy showing where the Giudice arms are recorded
The Giudice arms were recorded in Naples, c. 1775.
Naples was the largest city in Italy and the seat of a kingdom. Its noble houses were numerous, and the kingdom kept formal lists of the families entitled to arms, which is why so many appear in the records.
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 Giudice 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 Naples.
Origin & History of the Giudice Family in Italy
The surname Giudice originates from the Italian word for judge, which was historically used as a title for local magistrates or legal officials. By the time the family was firmly established in Naples in 1775, the name likely served as a way to identify individuals who held positions of authority or served in the judicial administration of the Kingdom of Naples. During the eighteenth century, Naples was a major cultural and political center where social status was often tied to one's profession or role within the government. Families bearing this name were frequently part of the professional class, contributing to the legal and bureaucratic functions that kept the city running. Over generations, what began as a functional job title evolved into a permanent family name, marking the descendants as part of a lineage that valued law and public service.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Iudex
A Latin term referring to a person who administers justice.
This name
GiudiceAn occupational surname for a judge or a local magistrate.
also spelled
Gyudice
Giudis
Joodiche
Judice
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
De Felice, Emidio. Dizionario dei cognomi italiani. 1978
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cross symbolChristian faith and service
cross symbolChristian faith and service
