A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Petris family of Italy.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Ec. d'arg. et d'azur. Cq. cour. C.: trois pl. d'aut., une d'arg. entre deux d'azur.”
The Petris 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.
Reigning in Italy when the Petris 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 family name Petris has deep roots in the coastal regions of Dalmatia, where members of the family were firmly established by the late 18th century. The name itself is derived from the Latin word for rock or stone, which suggests that the earliest ancestors may have been associated with masonry, stone carving, or living in rugged, rocky terrain. During the 1700s, Dalmatia was a vibrant crossroads of Mediterranean culture, influenced by both Venetian trade and local Slavic traditions. Families like the Petris were often involved in the maritime economy or local administration, playing a vital role in the social fabric of the Adriatic port towns. By 1775, the family was recognized as a stable part of the community, likely living in stone houses that reflected their connection to the land and the sea. This period of history was a time of transition for the region, and the Petris family helped shape the local identity through their work and their presence in these historic coastal cities.
Latin for rock or stone
