A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Pirola family of Italy.
Reg. 1871 · Italian, P–S
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé: au 1 d'or à l'aigle de sa., cour. d'or; au 2 de gu. à la fasce d'arg., ch. de deux étoiles de sa.; au pal d'azur, ch. d'une fleur-de-lis d'arg., br. sur la fasce. Cq. cour. C.: un vol de gu., chaque aile ch. d'une fasce d'arg. surch. d'une étoile de sa. L.: à dextre d'or et de sa., à sen. d'arg. et de gu.”
Italyc. 1792
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Map of Italy showing where the Pirola arms are recorded
The Pirola arms were recorded in Italy, c. 1792.
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.
Ludovico Manin
Sovereign of the period
Ludovico Manin
1789–1797
Reigning in Italy when the Pirola 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 Pirola Family in Italy
The Pirola family name is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of Northern Italy, with documented evidence placing members of the family in Venice by 1792. The name itself is believed to be a topographic or occupational surname, likely derived from the Italian word "pirola," which refers to a type of pear tree or a specific fruit-bearing plant common to the Lombardy and Veneto regions. During the late 18th century, Venice served as a bustling hub of trade and culture, and families like the Pirolas were often integrated into the city’s complex social structure as merchants or skilled artisans. As the family moved through these urban centers, they contributed to the local economy and the evolving identity of the Venetian Republic before its eventual fall. The persistence of the name across centuries suggests a family that was well-established within their local communities, maintaining their identity through generations of social and political change in the Italian peninsula.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Piro
Derived from the Latin word pirus meaning pear tree.
This name
PirolaA locative or occupational surname referring to someone who lived near or cultivated pear trees.
also spelled
Pirolae
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archivio di Stato di Venezia, Anagrafe di Venezia, Sezione Censimento 1792
De Felice, Emidio, Dizionario dei cognomi italiani, 1978
Olivieri, Dante, Dizionario dei cognomi italiani, 1953
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
