A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Guérini family of Italy.
Reg. 2645 · Italian, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé: au 1 d'azur à trois fleurs-de-lis mal-ordonnées d'or; au 2 d'or à l'aigle ép. de sa., bq. et m. de gu., chaque tête cour. d'or. Cq. cour. C.: trois pl. d'aut.: d'azur, d'or et de sa. L.: à dextre d'or et d'azur, à sen. d'or et de sa. [Comp. Guirino.]”
DalmatiaDalmatia, c. 1775
Where the Guérini Arms Were Recorded
Map of Italy showing where the Guérini arms are recorded
The Guérini arms were recorded in Dalmatia, c. 1775.
Dalmatia was a string of walled towns along the Adriatic coast, each with its own leading families. Sea trade made them wealthy, and the towns kept lists of the houses entitled to 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 Guérini 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 Dalmatia.
Origin & History of the Guérini Family in Italy
The Guérini family name has deep roots that trace back to the Mediterranean region, with significant historical evidence placing family members in Dalmatia by the year 1775. The name itself is a variation of the Germanic name Warin, which evolved through Italian influence to become Guérini. During the eighteenth century, Dalmatia served as a vital crossroads for trade and cultural exchange between the Venetian Republic and the surrounding Balkan territories. Families like the Guérinis often held roles as merchants, administrators, or local officials who helped bridge the gap between these diverse cultures. By settling in this coastal area, the family became part of a unique society that blended Slavic, Italian, and Mediterranean traditions. This period of history highlights how the family established a presence in a region known for its complex political shifts and maritime importance.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Guerino
Derived from the Germanic word for warrior or guard.
This name
GuériniA patronymic surname indicating descent from an ancestor named Guerino, meaning little warrior.
also spelled
Guerinni
Guerinie
Gerini
Related arms
Manarisimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Fisković, Cvito. Dalmatinski gradovi i njihovi umjetnici (1975)
State Archives in Zadar (Državni arhiv u Zadru), Zbirka matičnih knjiga (Collection of Parish Registers)
Novak, Grga. Prošlost Dalmacije (1944)
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