A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Matano family of Italy.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Losangé d'arg. et de gu.”
The Matano arms were recorded in Venice, c. 1775.
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.
Reigning in Italy when the Matano 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 Matano family name is deeply rooted in the vibrant history of Venice, where records confirm their presence by the year 1775. During this period, Venice functioned as a major hub for maritime trade and cultural exchange, which likely influenced the family's activities and social standing. The name itself is thought to have origins tied to the linguistic evolution of the Veneto region, reflecting the diverse influences of Mediterranean dialects. Families like the Matanos often played vital roles in the city's guild systems or merchant networks, contributing to the unique economic landscape of the Venetian Republic before its fall in 1797. By settling in such a prominent city, the early members of the family were positioned at the center of European artistic and political developments, leaving a quiet but enduring mark on the local history of the lagoon.
Derived from the Hebrew name Matityahu meaning gift of God.
