A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Graddy family of Italy.
Reg. 9953 · Italian, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Coupé: au 1 d'or à l'aigle de sa., cour. du champ; au 2 de gu. à la bande d'or, ch. des lettres S. P. Q. R. en lettres de sa.; la bande acc. à sen. de deux tours accostées d'arg., mouv. du flanc sen. et de la bande, et côtoyée à dextre d'un gril carré oblong de sa.”
ItalyMilan, c. 1775
Where the Graddy Arms Were Recorded
Milan
Map of Italy showing where the Graddy arms are recorded
The Graddy arms were recorded in Milan, c. 1775.
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 Graddy 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 Italy.
Origin & History of the Graddy Family in Italy
The family name Graddy carries a history rooted in the movement of people across European borders during the eighteenth century. While the name is often associated with later migrations to the English-speaking world, records confirm that members of the family were established in the city of Milan by 1775. During this period, Milan was a vibrant center of trade and intellectual exchange under the influence of the Habsburg monarchy. Families living in the city at that time were often involved in the professional guilds or the growing administrative sectors that defined urban life in Northern Italy. The presence of the Graddy name in such a significant cultural hub suggests that these early ancestors were likely part of the mobile merchant or professional classes who navigated the changing political landscape of the era. By settling in a major crossroads like Milan, the family became part of a long tradition of European families who adapted to new environments while maintaining their distinct identity.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gradus
Latin term meaning a step, degree, or progression.
This name
GraddyDerived from a topographic descriptor for someone living near a set of steps or a terraced slope.
also spelled
Gradis
Gradie
Graddy
Grady
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archivio di Stato di Milano, Stato civile della restaurazione, Milano
Borsatti, Luigi, Storia di Milano, 1957
Cattaneo, Carlo, Notizie naturali e civili su la Lombardia, 1844
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