A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Pizzo family of Italy.
Reg. 5839 · Italian, P–S
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
dragonA most valiant defender of treasure
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'or à un puits de gu., accosté de deux dragons affr. de sin., reg. dans le puits (dal Pozzo); aux 2 et 3 d'or à l'aigle ép. de sa. (armes de concession).”
Italyc. 1671
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Map of Italy showing where the Pizzo arms are recorded
The Pizzo arms were recorded in Italy, c. 1671.
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.
Charles Emmanuel II of Savoy
Sovereign of the period
Charles Emmanuel II of Savoy
1638–1675
Reigning in Italy when the Pizzo 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 Pizzo Family in Italy
The surname Pizzo traces its roots to the Italian language, where the word describes a sharp point, a peak, or a jagged edge. This name likely began as a topographic nickname, used to identify people who lived near a prominent mountain peak or on a steep, pointed cliffside. By 1671, records confirm that members of the Pizzo family were well-established in Venice, a city defined by its complex network of canals and island geography. During this period, Venice served as a major hub for trade and culture, and families like the Pizzo were often integrated into the city’s bustling maritime and merchant life. As the family moved and grew, the name remained a testament to their ancestral connection to the rugged landscapes of the Italian peninsula.
Pizzo Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
piz
A pointed object, peak, or sharp edge.
This name
PizzoRefers to someone living near a mountain peak or a sharp geographical feature.
also spelled
Pozzoh
Pozzos
Pozzoo
Potzo
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
De Felice, Emidio. Dizionario dei cognomi italiani. 1978
Fucilla, Joseph G. Our Italian Surnames. 1949
Archivio di Stato di Venezia, Anagrafiche di cittadinanza
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
dragonA most valiant defender of treasure
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
dragonA most valiant defender of treasure
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
