Show ContentsCilia History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Cilia family

The surname Cilia was first found in at Bari in Apulia, capital city of Bari; it contains the Cathedral of S. Sabino which was begun in 1034. In Roman times it was the junction between the coast road and Via Traiana. Its harbor is mentioned back in 180 B.C. It was a crusader town occupied by the Norman Robert Guiscard in 1071. It later acquired prosperity under Frederick II. In those ancient times only persons of rank, the podesta, clergy, city officials, army officers, artists, landowners were entered into the records. To be recorded at this time, at the beginning of recorded history, was of itself a great distinction and indicative of noble ancestry.

Early History of the Cilia family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cilia research. Another 99 words (7 lines of text) covering the year 1705 is included under the topic Early Cilia History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cilia Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Cilento, Cilenti, Ciliento, Ciliendo, Celentano, Celentani and many more.

Early Notables of the Cilia family

More information is included under the topic Early Cilia Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Cilia family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Alessandro Cilento, aged 12, who arrived at Ellis Island from Serramezzano, Italy, in 1921; Angela Cilento, aged 2, who arrived at Ellis Island from Vico Equense, in 1906.


Contemporary Notables of the name Cilia (post 1700) +

  • Joseph "Joe" Cilia (1937-2017), Maltese professional football player and manager
  • Cilia van Dijk Lieshout (1941-2023), Dutch Academy Award winning film producer, known for DaDa, Frieze Frame, I Move, so I Am, The Last Words of Dutch Schultz and Anna & Bella


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