Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'arg. à une couronne de chêne au nat.; au chef d'or, ch. d'une aigle de sa., bq. et m. de gu.”
A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Set family of Italy.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'arg. à une couronne de chêne au nat.; au chef d'or, ch. d'une aigle de sa., bq. et m. de gu.”

The Set 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.
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.
The family name Set traces its documented origins to the vibrant city of Venice during the late eighteenth century. By 1775, records confirm that members of the family were established residents within this maritime hub, a time when Venice served as a critical center for trade and cultural exchange. The name likely emerged from the linguistic traditions of the Venetian region, where surnames often reflected specific occupations, geographical locations, or personal traits common to the local population. As the family navigated the social and economic landscape of the Venetian Republic, they became part of the intricate tapestry of city life that defined this era. Their presence in such a prominent urban center suggests that the family was well-integrated into the bustling commerce and daily operations of the time. This early history provides a glimpse into the lives of individuals who contributed to the long-standing legacy of their community before the political shifts that later transformed the region.
Derived from the Italian word for silk.
