A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gola family of Italy.
Reg. 2427 · Italian, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Coupé d'arg. sur azur, l'arg. ch. d'un ours pass. de gu. Cq. cour. C.: trois pl. d'aut.: de gu., d'arg. et d'azur. L.: à dextre d'arg. et de gu., à sen. d'arg. et d'azur.”
DalmatiaDalmatia, c. 1775
Where the Gola Arms Were Recorded
Map of Italy showing where the Gola arms are recorded
The Gola arms were recorded in Dalmatia, c. 1775.
Dalmatia was a string of walled towns along the Adriatic coast, each with its own leading families. Sea trade made them wealthy, and the towns kept lists of the houses entitled to 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 Gola 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 Dalmatia.
Origin & History of the Gola Family in Italy
The family name Gola has deep roots in the coastal region of Dalmatia, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1775. During this period, Dalmatia was a vibrant crossroads of culture under the influence of the Venetian Republic and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Families in this area often lived in small, tight-knit coastal communities where they worked in maritime trade, fishing, or agriculture. The name itself likely evolved from local dialects and linguistic traditions common to the Adriatic shoreline. Because the region was a busy center for travel and commerce, the Gola family would have been part of a diverse society that valued strong community ties and local identity. Over time, these early ancestors helped shape the social fabric of their towns by participating in the daily life and economic growth of the Dalmatian coast.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gula
Latin term referring to the throat or gullet.
This name
GolaA topographical or occupational name likely referring to a narrow passage or gorge.
also spelled
Gola
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Kulušić, Šime. Povijest Dalmacije. 1978
State Archives in Zadar (Državni arhiv u Zadru), Matice krštenih (Baptismal Registers), 1770–1780
Novak, Grga. Povijest Splita. 1957
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