A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Grimaldo family of Italy.
Reg. 0152 · Italian, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
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. et de gu. Cq. d'or. C.: une fleur-de-lis d'or, entre une palme et un rameau de laurier. T.: deux moines de l'ordre de St.-Augustin, la tête nue, chacun brandissant une épée. D.: DEO JUVANTE. Manteau d'azur, doublé d'herm., sommé d'une couronne princière doublée d'azur [Comp. Gouyon.]”
Italyc. 1725
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Map of Italy showing where the Grimaldo arms are recorded
The Grimaldo arms were recorded in Italy, c. 1725.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Venice.
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.
Victor Amadeus II of Savoy
Sovereign of the period
Victor Amadeus II of Savoy
1675–1730
Reigning in Italy when the Grimaldo 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 Grimaldo Family in Italy
The surname Grimaldo finds its roots in the Germanic linguistic tradition, evolving from the name Grimaldus, which combines the elements for mask or helmet and bold or brave. While the name gained significant prominence through noble houses in other parts of Italy, the branch established in Venice by 1725 reflects the mobility of families during the height of the Venetian Republic. During this era, Venice served as a major hub for trade and administration, attracting families who sought to integrate into the city's complex social and mercantile structures. Members of the Grimaldo name in this region were often involved in the professional and civic life of the city, contributing to the vibrant culture of the Venetian state. Their presence in the early eighteenth century highlights a period of stability where established family names helped maintain the social order of the Mediterranean world.
Grimaldo Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Grimwald
Derived from Germanic elements meaning mask or helmet and rule.
This name
GrimaldoA surname of Germanic origin signifying a powerful protector or helmeted ruler.
also spelled
Grimaldie
Grimaldee
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Förstemann, Ernst. Altdeutsches Namenbuch. 1900
Moreri, Louis. Le Grand Dictionnaire Historique. 1759
Archivio di Stato di Venezia, Anagrafi di cittadini e forestieri
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