Show ContentsCipri History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

A variety of distinguished and notable names have emerged from the beautiful and historical Italian region of Tuscany, including the notable surname Cipri. During the Middle Ages, as populations grew and travel between regions became more frequent, the people of Tuscany, who were originally known only by a single name, found it necessary to adopt a second name to identify themselves and their families. This process of adopting fixed hereditary surnames in Italy began in the 10th and 11th centuries, but it was not completed until the modern era. The development of Italian hereditary surnames followed general principles and were characterized by derivatives from one's given name. The patronymic surname, which is derived from the father's given name, was one of the most common name types found in the region of Tuscany. This system of name-making was widely used because it linked well with the existing Feudal System and during the Christian era, many people named their children after saints and biblical figures. The surname Cipri came from the Greek name kyprios, which literally means Cyprus or the tree island. The name became popular in Italy due to the fame of Saint Cipriani, the Bishop of Cartagine who was martyred in 258. In those early centuries, with the spread of Christianity, parents often named their children after saints in the hope of invoking that particular saint's protection over the child in later years.

Early Origins of the Cipri family

The surname Cipri was first found in Florence (Italian: Firenze), where in the 12th century Arrigo Cipriano was a knight of Emperor Corrado registered in Florence.

Early History of the Cipri family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cipri research. The years 1660, 1727, 1738, 1754, 1765, 1766, 1770, 1790, 1791 and 1850 are included under the topic Early Cipri History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cipri Spelling Variations

Enormous variation in spelling and form characterizes those Italian names that originated in the medieval era. This is caused by two main factors: regional tradition, and inaccuracies in the recording process. Before the last few hundred years, scribes spelled names according to their sounds. Spelling variations were the unsurprising result. The variations of Cipri include Cipri, Cipro, Cipriani, and Cipriano and others.

Early Notables of the Cipri family

Prominent among members of the family was

  • Lamberto Cipriani of Florence, a member of the Ghibelline faction and a pacifist dedicated to ending the fighting between castles in the region during the late 13th century
  • Giovanni Cipri of Modena was an organ builder during the 16th century, and his brother Giuliano Cipri was of the same profession
  • Sebastiano Cipriani was an artist in Siena around 1660 whose works can be seen today in the Museum of Design in New York city
  • Giambattista Cipriani was a painter in Florence born in 1727 who began his trade at the start of the neoclassical movement
  • Giovanni Battista Cipriani, born in Siena in 1766, was a mathematician, but was more famous for his abilities as an architect and sculptor. Later members bearing the Cipri name and its forms include Emili...
  • Giuseppe Cipriani was a scientist in Livorno around 1850 who enjoyed studying capacities of the human brain
  • Leonetto Cipriani was a businessman in Corsica around this time

Migration of the Cipri family

Discovered in the immigration and passenger lists were a number of people bearing the name Cipri: Angelo Cipriani, aged 47, who arrived at Ellis Island from Arischio, Italy, in 1913; Angelo Cipriani, aged 22, who arrived at Ellis Island from Campoli, Italy, in 1913.



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