A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Guidi family of Italy.
Reg. 8185 · Italian, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
lionCourage, strength and royalty
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)
“Ec. en saut. d'arg. et de gu.; au lion de l'un en l'autre. C.: un demi-vol de gu., les plumes ext. d'arg.”
Italyc. 1775
Where the Guidi Arms Were Recorded
Venice
Map of Italy showing where the Guidi arms are recorded
The Guidi arms were recorded in Italy, c. 1775.
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.
Alvise Giovanni Mocenigo
Sovereign of the period
Alvise Giovanni Mocenigo
1763–1778
Reigning in Italy when the Guidi 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 Guidi Family in Italy
The Guidi family name has deep roots in the Italian peninsula, tracing its origins back to the medieval period when it was associated with powerful feudal lords in Tuscany and the Romagna region. While the name is famously linked to the influential Counts Guidi who held significant political and military sway during the Middle Ages, branches of the family eventually spread to major urban centers across Italy. By the late eighteenth century, members of the family were well-established in the vibrant city of Venice. Living in Venice during the year 1775, these individuals were part of a society defined by maritime trade, artistic achievement, and complex social hierarchies. As the family moved from their ancestral lands into the bustling atmosphere of the Venetian Republic, they integrated into the local culture while maintaining the legacy of a name that had been recognized for centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Wido
A Germanic root meaning wood or wide.
This name
GuidiDerived from a Germanic personal name signifying a guide or leader.
also spelled
Guido
Guidis
Guidy
Geedi
Related arms
Proncksimilar arms
Guidovariant spelling
Guidyvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Davidsohn, Robert, Storia di Firenze, 1956
Litta, Pompeo, Famiglie celebri italiane, 1819
Archivio di Stato di Venezia, Anagrafi di cittadini e forestieri, 1775
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
lionCourage, strength and royalty
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
lionCourage, strength and royalty
