Surname evolution

[wisemonkey]

I have been researching records obtained from the ARCHIVIO DI STATO DI COSENZA. Our family name of Ricci shows in some records as:

di Ricci
Riccio
Ricci.

Is there some reason that the last name evolved?
Thank you in advance for your assistance.

[Italysearcher]

Ricci could be considered the plural of Riccio much as we would say Smith or Smiths.

[maestra36]

As to the derivation of the surname, there are several possibilities, according to Joseph G. Fucilla in his book Our Italian Surnames (p.212). For one thing, Riccio may be considered an anatomical name meaning wavy or curly hair, or referring to a person with this particular characteristic. The Ricci or Riccio may have come from the first name Maurizio, Mauricio, or from the word riccio, which means hedgehog or porcupine.

[PeterTimber]

Surnames resumed after the collapse of Western europe with Royalty, nobility drifting down to church bigwigs, wealthy landowners, burghers and bourgeoise during the early middle ages from about 800AD. Serfs and others in the peasant class were called by nicknames associated with either physical characteritics, occupations, anecdotes or some notoriety until the late 1300's when family names for commoners became increasingly prevalent first in cities and later inthe countryside

The Italian surname dictionary based its selection of surnames on the basis of well known Ancient Greek and latin names, church names,(cults of Saints names. imported surnames from invasions or immigration and italianized with large distributions based upon popular appeal (General BELISARIUS who re - conquered the western empire For the Byzantine emperors became hugely popularin Southern Italy and Sicily and the name and eventual surname BELISARIO still exists to this day and can be seen on TV credits.).

The reason why some Italian names are not listed is that these nicknames,becoming first names and later surnames based upon church edicts are local and not originally distributed far from their origin with variations, derivations,abbreviations etc etc.


Finally if you go to
www.anzwers.org/free/italiangen/italynames.html there is some additonal information. =pETER=

[wisemonkey]

Many thanks! That makes perfect sense. There ancestors in our family tree named Mauro and the Scala Coeli crest shows a hedgehog.

[PeterTimber]

.....Dear Wisemonkey and what about poor BELISARIUS??? =Peter=