A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Nicolaisen family of Italy.
Reg. 1381 · Italian, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“d'azur à un croiss. versé d'arg. en chef et deux étoiles du même en flancs; au 2 d'or à un tertre de sin., mouv. de la p. Au chev. d'arg., br. sur la division.”
Italyc. 1775
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Map of Italy showing where the Nicolaisen arms are recorded
The Nicolaisen arms were recorded in Italy, c. 1775.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Venice.
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.
Alvise Giovanni Mocenigo
Sovereign of the period
Alvise Giovanni Mocenigo
1763–1778
Reigning in Italy when the Nicolaisen 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 Italy.
Origin & History of the Nicolaisen Family in Italy
The family name Nicolaisen is a patronymic surname, which means it was originally formed by combining a given name with a suffix indicating lineage. In this case, the name translates to "son of Nicolai," reflecting a tradition common across Northern Europe where a father’s first name became the permanent identifier for his children. While the name is deeply rooted in Scandinavian naming customs, historical records confirm that members of the family were established in Venice by 1775. This suggests that the family was part of the vibrant merchant and diplomatic networks that linked the Nordic regions to the Mediterranean during the eighteenth century. Living in a major trade hub like Venice allowed the family to participate in the exchange of goods and ideas between different cultures, marking a significant chapter in their early history as they transitioned from their northern origins into the cosmopolitan life of Italy.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Nikolaos
Derived from Greek words meaning victory and people.
This name
NicolaisenA patronymic surname meaning son of Nicholas, reflecting a lineage of victory for the people.
also spelled
Nikolis
Nikolees
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Kruken, Kristoffer and Stemshaug, Ola. Norsk personnamnleksikon. 1995
Archivio di Stato di Venezia, Anagrafe di Venezia, Registri dei cittadini stranieri
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
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
