A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Guardado family of Italy.
Reg. 9997 · Italian, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
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 avant-bras, en barre, mouv. du canton dextre de la p., paré d'or, la main appaumée de carn. dirigée vers une auréole d'or, mouv. d'une émanchure d'azur au canton sen. du chef.”
VeniceVenice, c. 1775
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Map of Italy showing where the Guardado arms are recorded
The Guardado arms were recorded in Venice, c. 1775.
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.
Alvise Giovanni Mocenigo
Sovereign of the period
Alvise Giovanni Mocenigo
1763–1778
Reigning in Italy when the Guardado 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 Venice.
Origin & History of the Guardado Family in Italy
The surname Guardado originates from the Spanish verb *guardar*, which means to keep, protect, or guard. Historically, this name functioned as an occupational title for individuals who served as sentries, watchmen, or protectors of property and land. While the name is deeply rooted in the Iberian Peninsula, the family expanded its reach across Europe over several centuries. By 1775, records confirm that members of the Guardado family were established in Venice, a major hub for international trade and diplomacy at the time. This presence in Italy suggests that the family was likely involved in the merchant networks or the administrative systems that connected the Mediterranean world. Their migration reflects the broader movement of families who sought new opportunities in the bustling urban centers of the eighteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Guardare
To look, watch, or protect.
This name
GuardadoDerived from a nickname or occupational title for a watchman or guard.
also spelled
Guardadi
Guardadios
Guardad
Gwardadio
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Albaigès, Josep Maria, Diccionario de nombres de personas, 1993
Moll, Francesc de B., Els llinatges catalans, 1959
Archivio di Stato di Venezia, Anagrafe di Venezia, Sezione dei cittadini stranieri, 1775
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
