A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Rizzo family of Italy.
Reg. 8768 · 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 Rizzo arms are recorded
The Rizzo 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 Rizzo 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 Rizzo Family in Italy
The surname Rizzo is deeply rooted in the history of Southern Italy, particularly within the vibrant culture of Naples. The name is derived from the Italian word "riccio," which translates to curly or crisp, and it was originally used as a descriptive nickname for someone with curly hair. By the time records confirm the family’s presence in Naples in 1775, the name had already transitioned from a simple nickname into a stable hereditary surname passed down through generations. During this period, the Rizzo family lived in a city defined by its dense urban population and its role as a major Mediterranean port. As residents of Naples in the late eighteenth century, members of the family were likely integrated into the complex social and economic life of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, participating in the trades, crafts, and civic duties that kept the city functioning during a time of significant cultural change.
Rizzo Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Riccio
Derived from the Latin word ericius meaning hedgehog or prickly.
This name
RizzoA descriptive nickname for someone 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
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
