A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ruff family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 1373 · Italian, P–S
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 coupé-émanché d'arg. sur sa. (Ruffo); aux 2 et 3 d'arg. à trois pals de gu.; à la bande d'azur, br. sur les pals et ch. de trois bes. d'or (Roux marquis de Beauvezet). D.: VIS UNITA FORTIOR.”
Italyc. 1775
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Map of Italy showing where the Ruff arms are recorded
The Ruff arms were recorded in Italy, c. 1775.
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.
Alvise Giovanni Mocenigo
Sovereign of the period
Alvise Giovanni Mocenigo
1763–1778
Reigning in Italy when the Ruff 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 Ruff Family in Italy
The family name Ruff carries a distinct history rooted in the vibrant social landscape of eighteenth-century Venice. By 1775, records indicate that members of the family were already established within the city, a time when Venice served as a major crossroads for trade and cultural exchange in Europe. The name likely evolved from regional linguistic roots, potentially linked to descriptive nicknames common in the Italian peninsula during that era. As residents of a maritime power, early family members were positioned at the center of a sophisticated urban society that relied heavily on merchant networks and administrative record-keeping. This environment allowed families like the Ruff line to participate in the unique civic life of the Venetian Republic, contributing to the diverse tapestry of residents who navigated the city’s complex political and economic systems before the fall of the Republic at the end of the century.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
labelThe eldest son, during his father's life
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ar. three chev. sa. and a label of five points gu”
ChesterChester, c. 1620
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Map of England showing where the Ruff arms are recorded
The Ruff arms were recorded in Chester, c. 1620.
Cheshire was governed apart from the rest of England for much of its history, with its own courts and its own gentry. That separateness bred a strong local landed class, and landed families carried arms.
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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in Italy when the Ruff arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Chester.
Origin & History of the Ruff Family in England
The surname Ruff likely originated as a descriptive nickname in medieval England, often used to identify someone with a rough appearance or a coarse personality. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the city of Chester. Records from 1620 show members of the Ruff family living in this historic walled city, which served as a major hub for trade and military activity near the Welsh border. During this period, families in Chester often worked as merchants or skilled craftsmen, taking advantage of the city's busy river port and its role as a regional center for administration. While the name may have started as a simple way to describe a person, the Ruff family became part of the social fabric of Chester as they settled into the local community and contributed to the growth of the city during the Stuart era.
Ruff Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Rufus
Latin term meaning red or reddish-haired.
This name
RuffA descriptive nickname for an individual with red hair or a ruddy complexion.
also spelled
Ruffoo
Ruff
Rufo
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archivio di Stato di Venezia, Anagrafe di Venezia, Sezione II
Lane, Frederic C., Venice: A Maritime Republic, 1973
Norwich, John Julius, A History of Venice, 1982
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paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
labelThe eldest son, during his father's life
