Map of Italy showing where the Severino arms are recorded
The Severino 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 Severino 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 Severino Family in Italy
The name Severino traces its roots to the Latin word *severus*, which means serious or strict. In the context of Italian history, the name became established as a surname during the Middle Ages, often reflecting the influence of Saint Severinus, a popular figure in early Christian tradition. By the time the family was well-documented in Naples in 1775, they were part of a vibrant urban society that had been shaped by centuries of cultural exchange. During this period, the Severino family lived in a city that served as a major center for trade, music, and legal administration in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. Many families with this name were deeply integrated into the local economy, often working as skilled artisans, merchants, or professionals who contributed to the growth of the Neapolitan middle class. Their presence in the city records of the late eighteenth century highlights a long history of stability and civic participation within one of Europe’s most significant historical capitals.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Severus
Latin term meaning stern, strict, or serious.
This name
SeverinoDerived from the Roman cognomen indicating a person of severe or austere character.
also spelled
Severin
Related arms
Criegernsimilar arms
Franquinetsimilar arms
Severinvariant spelling
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
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
