Map of Italy showing where the Montalto arms are recorded
The Montalto 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.
Alvise Giovanni Mocenigo
Sovereign of the period
Alvise Giovanni Mocenigo
1763–1778
Reigning in Italy when the Montalto 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 Naples.
Origin & History of the Montalto Family in Italy
The name Montalto is rooted in the landscape of medieval Italy, specifically deriving from the Italian words for high mountain. This topographical surname was often given to families who resided near prominent peaks or within fortified hilltop settlements. By the year 1775, historical records confirm that members of the Montalto family were firmly established in the vibrant city of Naples. During this period, Naples served as a major cultural and economic hub under the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. Families with this name were often integrated into the local urban fabric, participating in the professional and social life of the city as it transitioned through the Enlightenment era. The presence of the family in such a significant metropolitan center suggests they were part of the established citizenry that helped shape the local history of southern Italy during the late eighteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Mons Altus
Latin for high mountain or elevated peak.
This name
MontaltoRefers to a person who lived on or near a high mountain.
also spelled
Montalt
Montaltoe
Related arms
Perettisimilar arms
Montaltvariant spelling
Adorno de Tscharnerrecorded with Montalto, same area
Albertinorecorded with Montalto, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
De Felice, Emidio, Dizionario dei cognomi italiani, 1978
Archivio di Stato di Napoli, Stato Civile della Restaurazione, 1809–1865
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paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
