A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Imperiale family of Italy.
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mindJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'or à l'aigle de sa., cour. d'or.”
The Imperiale arms were recorded in Naples, c. 1775.
Naples was the largest city in Italy and the seat of a kingdom. Its noble houses were numerous, and the kingdom kept formal lists of the families entitled to arms, which is why so many appear in the records.
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.
Reigning in Italy when the Imperiale arms are first recorded.
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.
The name Imperiale carries a rich historical legacy rooted in the social and political landscape of southern Italy. By the late 18th century, the family was firmly established in Naples, a city that served as a vibrant center of culture and administration under the Bourbon monarchy. During this period, families bearing this name were often associated with the professional and landowning classes who helped manage the complex affairs of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. The name itself reflects a connection to the concept of imperial authority, suggesting that early ancestors may have held roles tied to legal, military, or administrative service within the broader Mediterranean world. As the family grew in prominence in Naples by 1775, they became part of the urban elite who influenced the local economy and participated in the intellectual life of the city during the Enlightenment.
Latin term meaning command, authority, or supreme power.
