A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Marginean family of Italy.
Reg. 9837 · Italian, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
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)
“D'arg. à la croix de gu., ch. d'une aigle d'arg., bq. et m. d'or, et cant. de quatre briquets en forme de croiss. d'azur, les dos tournés vers les angles de la croix. Cq. cour. C.: une jeune fille iss. de carn., posée de profil, les cheveux épars d'or flottant à sen., tenant de sa main dextre une antenne d'or à laquelle est attachée une voile enflée de gu., ch. de l'aigle de l'écu, et de sa sen. le bout inférieur de ladite voile. L. d'arg. et de gu.”
DalmatiaBosnie · Dalmatia, c. 1775
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Map of Italy showing where the Marginean arms are recorded
The Marginean 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 Marginean 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 Marginean Family in Italy
The family name Marginean is deeply rooted in the historical geography of the Balkan region. By the year 1775, records confirm that members of the family were established in Dalmatia, a coastal area known for its complex mix of cultures and shifting political borders. The name itself is derived from the Romanian word "margine," which translates to edge or border. This suggests that the earliest ancestors likely lived on the periphery of a village or near the boundary of a specific territory. As people moved across the Adriatic region during the eighteenth century, families often adopted surnames based on their geographic location or their role within a rural community. The presence of the Marginean name in Dalmatian archives highlights a history of migration and adaptation as the family navigated life in a region defined by its proximity to both the mountains and the sea.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
margo
Latin term meaning edge, border, or boundary.
This name
MargineanRefers to someone who lived near a border, boundary, or the edge of a field.
also spelled
Margnany
Margnanni
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
State Archives in Zadar (Državni arhiv u Zadru), Fond: Obiteljski arhiv (Family Archives)
National Archives of Romania (Arhivele Naționale ale României), Fond: Documente referitoare la familiile transilvănene
Iorgu Iordan, Dicționarul numelor de familie românești, 1983
Petar Skok, Etimologijski rječnik hrvatskoga ili srpskoga jezika, 1971
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
cross symbolChristian faith and service
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
