A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Guadagno family of Italy.
Reg. 7327 · Italian, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. à la croix engr. d'or. C.: une licorne iss. d'arg. D.: EXALTABITUR.”
ItalyFlorence, c. 1775
Where the Guadagno Arms Were Recorded
Florence
Map of Italy showing where the Guadagno arms are recorded
The Guadagno arms were recorded in Florence, 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 Guadagno 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 Guadagno Family in Italy
The surname Guadagno originates from the Italian word for gain or profit, which suggests that the family’s earliest ancestors were likely involved in trade, commerce, or agriculture. By the year 1775, records confirm that members of the Guadagno family were established residents of Florence. During this period, Florence was a major center for banking and artisanal craftsmanship, providing a thriving environment for families who built their livelihoods through business ventures. As the family became integrated into the social fabric of the city, they likely participated in the local guilds that defined Florentine life. The name serves as a historical marker of a lineage that valued industry and economic contribution within one of Italy’s most influential cultural hubs.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Guadagnare
To gain, earn, or acquire through labor or effort.
This name
GuadagnoRefers to a person who is a breadwinner, earner, or someone who has acquired wealth.
also spelled
Guadagno
Guadagnini
Guadagnino
Gwadanyi
Gwadagni
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Beccari, Arturo. Dizionario dei cognomi italiani. 1993
De Felice, Emidio. Dizionario dei cognomi italiani. 1978
Archivio di Stato di Firenze, Stato civile della restaurazione
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cross symbolChristian faith and service
cross symbolChristian faith and service
