A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Guazzo family of Italy.
Reg. 2715 · Italian, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
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. au lion d'or, tenant de ses pattes un pennon d'arg., flottant à sen., attaché à une hampe d'or sommée d'une tête de More.”
ItalyVicence, c. 1775
Where the Guazzo Arms Were Recorded
Vicence
Map of Italy showing where the Guazzo arms are recorded
The Guazzo arms were recorded in Vicence, 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 Guazzo 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 Guazzo Family in Italy
The family name Guazzo finds its historical roots in the Veneto region of Northern Italy, with documented evidence placing the family in the city of Vicenza by 1775. The name itself is thought to be derived from the Italian word "guazzo," which historically referred to a ford or a shallow place in a river where one could cross on foot. This suggests that the family’s earliest ancestors may have lived near a prominent waterway or earned their living by managing a crossing point. During the late 18th century, families in Vicenza were often deeply integrated into the local agricultural and mercantile economy of the Venetian mainland. As the family established themselves in this vibrant city, they became part of the social fabric that defined the region during the final years of the Republic of Venice. By tracing their presence back to this period, we see a family that was likely composed of skilled workers or landholders who played a quiet but steady role in the development of their community.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Guazzo
Derived from the Old Italian term for a puddle or marshy area.
This name
GuazzoRefers to someone who lived near a muddy area, swamp, or stagnant water.
also spelled
Guazzi
Guazz
Guazzos
Gwatso
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Mantese, Giovanni, Memorie storiche della Chiesa vicentina, 1952
Archivio di Stato di Vicenza, Stato Civile della Restaurazione, 1815-1871
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
