A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Markovic family of Italy.
Reg. 6251 · Italian, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 coupé d'arg. sur gu., à deux fleurs-de-lis de l'un à l'autre; aux 2 et 3 taillé de sa. sur or, à un griffon cour., tenant un sabre, de l'un à l'autre, soutenu d'un tertre de trois coupeaux de sin., le griffon du 3 cont. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1° un homme iss., hab. d'un parti de gu. et d'arg., coiffé d'un bonnet de gu. orné d'une plume de héron, tenant un guidon de gu. ch. d'une croix d'arg.; entre un vol coupé alt. d'arg. et de gu., chaque aile ch. d'une fleur-de-lis de l'un à l'autre; l. d'or et de sa.; 2° le griffon taillé du 2; l. d'arg. et de gu.”
DalmatiaDalmatia, c. 1775
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Map of Italy showing where the Markovic arms are recorded
The Markovic 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 Markovic 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 Markovic Family in Italy
The family name Markovic is a patronymic surname, which means it was created by adding a suffix to the given name Marko. In the Slavic tradition, this suffix indicates that the family members were the descendants or the sons of a man named Marko. By the year 1775, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in the Dalmatian region along the Adriatic coast. During this period, the Dalmatian population lived under a complex mix of influences from the Venetian Republic and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Families like the Markovics often worked as farmers, sailors, or merchants who helped connect the coastal towns with the mountainous interior. Because the name is based on such a common personal name, it likely emerged independently in several different locations throughout the Balkans rather than originating from a single ancestor. This widespread use allowed the name to persist across generations as a way to identify family lineage within local village communities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Marcus
Derived from the Roman god Mars, associated with war and masculinity.
This name
MarkovicA patronymic surname meaning son of Mark, indicating descent from a person named Mark.
also spelled
Markovitch
Markovic
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Skok, Petar. Etimologijski rječnik hrvatskoga ili srpskoga jezika. 1971
Šimunović, Petar. Hrvatska prezimena: podrijetlo, značenje, rasprostranjenost. 2006
State Archives in Zadar (Državni arhiv u Zadru), Katastarski operati za Dalmaciju (Cadastral records for Dalmatia), 18th-century series
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
