Marrafa origin?

[zehelmer]

Hi, ALL

I'm looking for the origin of surname Marrafa.

It was adopted in Portugal by ~1850 but we don't know how it originated.

We think it was coming from an Italian artist (singer?) Maraffi... but we did not get any documentation about it yet.

Is there some knowledge base allowing us to investigate and arrive at conclusions about the adoption of Marrafa in Portugal and/or other countries?

Any support to our demand is highly appreciated.

With best regards,

José Silva

[suanj]

In Italy exist Marraffa(2f) no more info, only that it would seem to come from the Marraf surname present in Marocco... regards, suanj

[zehelmer]

In Italy exist Marraffa(2f) no more info, only that it would seem to come from the Marraf surname present in Marocco... regards, suanj

Thank you, suanj

What about the Italian dancer (balerino) Maraffi, coming to Lisbon by 1791, with an opera company?

How to find all possible documentation?

Best regards

jose silva

[PeterTimber]

Dear Jose Marrafa the earliest reference to Marrafa in the www.familysearch.org website of the Mormon church is in Spain 1842. Go there under ancestor search and judging from the surname and Suanj 's findings it would appear that this is an arabic surname doesn;t it? =Peter=

[zehelmer]

Hello, Peter

Thanks for your post

That is one possibility but it is difficult to explain how it appeared suddenly in our region (North of Portugal).

We have also some references to the influence of that Italian dancer (Maraffi) in Lisbon.

Then we would like to investigate this root but we couldn't find any data concerning this (popular) dancer.
How to search and/or who can help us to discover it?

Best regards

jose silva

[Aether]

Zehelmer,

By chance I found the following references:

MARAFFA in:
Cancello ad Arnone , Provincia di Caserta
Pontecagnano Faiano , Provincia di Salerno
San Pietro al Tanagro, " " " " "

Gioiosa Marea, Provincia di Messina
Brolo, " " " "
Piraino " " " "
Ficarra " " " "

Mola di Bari, Provincia di Bari
Fasano, Provincia di Brindisi
Leporano, Provincia di Taranto

If you need further information you should continue your research on those locations.

Aether

[zehelmer]

Hi, Aether

Many thanks for your care.

It looks that Italian Maraffa's have a completely different origin from Portuguese Marrafa's.

Marrafa in Portugal is (most probably) originating from Italian dancer (balerino) Maraffi, performing at the Teatro S. Carlos (Lisbon) in 1791-1793.

We would highly appreciate all suggestions helping us to arrive at documented references to Maraffi and its origin.

Best regards