A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Riccio family of Italy.
Reg. 7070 · Italian, P–S
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
hedgehogA provident provider
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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, d'or à une aigle naiss. de sa., sur un fascé-enté d'azur et d'or de quatre pièces; à la fasce d'or, br. sur le coupé et ch. d'un hérisson de sa.”
NaplesNaples, c. 1775
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Map of Italy showing where the Riccio arms are recorded
The Riccio arms were recorded in Naples, c. 1775.
Naples was the largest city in Italy and the seat of a kingdom. Its noble houses were numerous, and the kingdom kept formal lists of the families entitled to arms, which is why so many appear in the records.
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 Riccio 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 Naples.
Origin & History of the Riccio Family in Italy
The name Riccio is deeply rooted in the Italian language and carries a descriptive meaning that reflects the physical traits of its earliest bearers. Derived from the Italian word "riccio," which translates to curly or crisp, the name likely began as a nickname for an ancestor with distinctively curly hair. By the time the family was firmly established in Naples in 1775, the name had evolved from a simple descriptor into a recognized surname that identified a specific lineage within the region. During this period, Naples was a bustling center of culture and trade under the Bourbon monarchy, and families like the Riccios were often integrated into the local urban fabric as artisans, merchants, or professionals. This transition from a personal nickname to a hereditary family name highlights how naming customs in Southern Italy often prioritized observable physical characteristics to distinguish individuals within growing communities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Riccius
Derived from the Latin word for curly or wavy hair.
This name
RiccioA descriptive nickname for an individual with curly or frizzy hair.
also spelled
Ricio
Rizzo
Reecheeo
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
De Felice, Emidio. Dizionario dei cognomi italiani. 1978
State Archives of Naples (Archivio di Stato di Napoli), Stato Civile della Restaurazione
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
hedgehogA provident provider
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
hedgehogA provident provider
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
