Map of Belgium showing where the Principato arms are recorded
The Principato arms were recorded in Belgium, c. 1725.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Brabant.
Brabant lay at the heart of the Low Countries, where the trade routes met. Its towns were wealthy and its landowners many, and both kinds of family kept arms, which is why the region is so heavily represented.
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 Belgium in this period.
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
1711–1740
Reigning in Belgium when the Principato arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Belgium
In Belgium, a coat of arms is considered personal property that is passed down through the male line to legitimate descendants. Families often use the same shield design across generations to show their shared heritage. If a branch of the family wants to change the design, they must apply for an official update to their specific version of the arms.
Granting authority
The Conseil héraldique is the official body that regulates and approves all coats of arms in Belgium.
How they got arms
Families obtain their coats of arms through formal royal grants or by confirming their historical right to use existing designs.
Where arms were recorded
All approved coats of arms are officially recorded in the public registers of the Conseil héraldique since 1844.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Belgium.
Origin & History of the Principato Family in Belgium
The name Principato finds its roots in the Italian language, where it literally translates to principality. Historically, this name was often used as a topographical identifier for individuals who lived near or worked within the lands governed by a prince. By 1725, records indicate that members of the family had established a presence in the region of Brabant. This migration suggests that the family was likely part of the professional or merchant classes who moved across European borders to seek new opportunities during the early eighteenth century. As they settled into this new environment, the family maintained their distinctive surname, which served as a link to their Mediterranean heritage while they integrated into the local society of the Low Countries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Princeps
Latin term meaning first, chief, or leader.
This name
PrincipatoAn occupational or status-based surname denoting someone who served in a princely household or acted in a lordly manner.
also spelled
Pryncype
Preencipay
Prince
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
De Smet, A., Inventaire des archives de la famille de Merode, 1953
Fruin, R., Geschiedenis der Staatsinstellingen in Nederland, 1901
State Archives in Belgium, Parish Registers of Brabant, 1725
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
lionCourage, strength and royalty
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
lionCourage, strength and royalty
