Map of Italy showing where the Terzi arms are recorded
The Terzi arms were recorded in Venice, c. 1775.
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 Terzi 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 Venice.
Origin & History of the Terzi Family in Italy
The surname Terzi originates from the Italian word *terzo*, which means third. Historically, this name was often given to a third-born son or a family that lived in a district known as a *terziere*. By the late 18th century, the Terzi family had established a notable presence in Venice. During this era, Venice was a center of trade and craftsmanship, and many families with this name were involved in the city's thriving textile and tailoring guilds. Because the name is linked to professional roles and social organization, it reflects the structured life of the Venetian Republic. Families like the Terzi were part of the urban fabric that kept the city functioning as a major Mediterranean power before the political shifts of the early 19th century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
terzo
The Latin word tertius meaning third in numerical order.
This name
TerziAn occupational surname for a third-born son or a tailor who worked with third-grade cloth.
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 Venice (Archivio di Stato di Venezia). Anagrafi di popolazione, serie II
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
