A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Granata family of Italy.
Reg. 0661 · Italian, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bombOne who has faced a great siege
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à un grenade d'or, ouv. de gu., la tige en bas (sans feuilles).”
SicilySicily, c. 1775
Where the Granata Arms Were Recorded
Sicily
Map of Italy showing where the Granata arms are recorded
The Granata arms were recorded in Sicily, c. 1775.
Sicily was ruled in turn by Normans, Germans, French and Spanish, and each left landed families behind. The island kept formal lists of its noble houses, which is why so many Sicilian names carry recorded 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 Granata 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 Sicily.
Origin & History of the Granata Family in Italy
The surname Granata is deeply rooted in the history of Sicily, where the family was well-established by the late eighteenth century. The name itself is derived from the Italian word for pomegranate, a fruit that has served as a powerful symbol of fertility, abundance, and prosperity throughout Mediterranean history. In the context of early Sicilian society, such names were often associated with families who owned land or were involved in the cultivation of orchards. By 1775, members of the Granata family were active participants in the social and economic life of the island, likely contributing to the vibrant agricultural traditions that defined the region during that era. As the family grew, they became part of the complex tapestry of Sicilian life, reflecting the cultural shifts and historical developments that shaped the island over several generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
granatum
Latin term for a pomegranate or a seed-bearing fruit.
This name
GranataDerived from a nickname for someone with a round head or a merchant selling pomegranates.
also spelled
Granatta
Granate
Granato
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Emidio De Felice, Dizionario dei cognomi italiani, 1978
Girolamo Caracausi, Dizionario onomastico della Sicilia, 1993
Archivio di Stato di Palermo, Stato Civile della Restaurazione
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bombOne who has faced a great siege
bombOne who has faced a great siege
