A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Visalli family of Italy.
Reg. 6055 · Italian, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à une tour sommée de trois tourelles d'or, mouv. d'une mer d'azur agitée d'arg., dans laquelle nage un poisson de sa., ladite tour ouv. et aj. d'une seule pièce ronde du champ et surm. d'une fleur-de-lis d'or.”
SicilySicily, c. 1775
Where the Visalli Arms Were Recorded
Sicily
Map of Italy showing where the Visalli arms are recorded
The Visalli arms were recorded in Sicily, c. 1775.
Sicily was ruled in turn by Normans, Germans, French and Spanish, and each left landed families behind. The island kept formal lists of its noble houses, which is why so many Sicilian names carry recorded 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 Italy in this period.
Alvise Giovanni Mocenigo
Sovereign of the period
Alvise Giovanni Mocenigo
1763–1778
Reigning in Italy when the Visalli 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 Sicily.
Origin & History of the Visalli Family in Italy
The Visalli family name is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of Sicily, where documented records confirm their presence by the year 1775. The name is considered a topographical or locative surname, which often suggests that the earliest ancestors lived near a specific landmark or within a particular district in the Messina region. During the late 18th century, Sicily was a society defined by agricultural traditions and small village communities, where families like the Visallis were often tied to the land through farming or local trade. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the island, contributing to the distinct cultural identity of the Mediterranean. By studying parish registers and local civil records from this era, historians can trace how the family adapted to the shifting political climate of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, eventually establishing a lasting legacy that has persisted for over two centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Visus
Latin term meaning sight, vision, or appearance.
This name
VisalliDerived from a nickname for a person with a notable or striking appearance.
also spelled
Vysalli
Visally
Visallie
Visaly
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archivio di Stato di Messina, Stato Civile della Restaurazione
Diocesi di Messina, Registri Parrocchiali di Battesimo e Matrimonio
Guglielmo, Giovanni, Storia della Sicilia moderna, 1998
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
