Fiorenza History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Italy

The Fiorenza family can trace its noble origins to the Italian region of Tuscany. Although people were originally known only by a single name, it became necessary for people to adapt a second name to identify themselves as populations grew and travel became more frequent. The process of adopting fixed hereditary surnames was not complete until the modern era, but the use of hereditary family names in Italy began in the 10th and 11th centuries. Italian hereditary surnames were developed according to fairly general principles and they are characterized by a profusion of derivatives coined from given names. Although the most traditional type of family name found in the region of Tuscany is the patronymic surname, which is derived from the father's given name, local surnames are also found. Local names, which are the least frequent of the major types of surnames found in Italy, are derived from a place-name where the original bearer once resided or held land. Often Italian local surnames bore the prefix "di," which signifies emigration from one place to another, but does not necessarily denote nobility.

Early Origins of the Fiorenza family

The surname Fiorenza was first found in Florence (Italian: Firenze), where the main branch of the family has its roots. Records have been found as early as 1421, when Vespasiano Fiorentini was a bookseller and biographer in the city.

Early History of the Fiorenza family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fiorenza research. The years 1372, 1415 and 1430 are included under the topic Early Fiorenza History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fiorenza Spelling Variations

Italian surnames have a surprising number of forms in comparison with other European surnames because they reflect the regional variations and the many dialects of the Italian language, each of which has its distinctive features. For example, in Northern Italy the most standard Italian surname suffix is "I", whereas in Southern Italy the most typical surname suffix is "O". Sardinian is very different from other forms of Italian and in fact, it is considered to be its own distinct language. Additionally, spelling changes frequently occurred because medieval scribes, church officials, and the bearers of names, spelled names as they sounded rather than according to any specific spelling rules. As a consequence of the major changes in the Italian language and in the local spellings of Italian surnames that occurred over the course of history, there are numerous variations for the surname Fiorenza. These spelling variations include Firenze, Fiorentino, Fiorentini, Fiorentin, Fiorentìn, Firenzuola and many more.

Early Notables of the Fiorenza family

Prominent among members of the family was Andrea da Firenze (Andreas da Florentia) (died 1415), an Italian composer and organist of the late medieval era, Along with Francesco Landini and Paolo da Firenze, he was a leading representative of the Italian ars nova style of the Trecento, and was a prolific composer of secular songs, principally ballate; Niccol Fiorentino, a medallist from a family of goldsmiths, who lived in Florence around 1430; Giuliano Fiorentino was a 15th century Tuscan sculptor among whose...
Another 82 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Fiorenza Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fiorenza migration to the United States +

Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Fiorenza were

Fiorenza Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Angelo Fiorenza, aged 29, who settled in America from Italy, in 1900
Antonia Fiorenza, aged 40, who landed in America from Cantonia, Italy, in 1901
Antonio Fiorenza, aged 25, who immigrated to the United States from Policastro, in 1901
Andrea Fiorenza, aged 50, who settled in America from Italy, in 1903
Antonio Fiorenza, aged 28, who landed in America from Castanzaro, Italy, in 1904
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Fiorenza (post 1700) +

Joseph Anthony Fiorenza (1931-2022), American prelate of the Catholic Church, 7th Bishop and 1st Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston in Texas (1985-2006)
Francis Schüssler Fiorenza, the Stillman Professor of Roman Catholic Theological Studies at Harvard Divinity School
Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza (b. 1938), American feminist theologian
Victoria Marie "Tori" Fiorenza (b. 1986), American beauty queen and reality television personality
Nicola Fiorenza (1700-1764), Italian violinist and composer