Lama History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
France
Italy
Spain

From the ancient and picturesque Italian region of Venice emerged a variety of distinguished names, including the notable surname Lama. Although people were originally known only by a single name, it became necessary for people to adopt 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 Venice 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. The Lama family lived in Milan. Originally, Lama was a Spanish local name for someone who lived on a patch of marshland, and it was originally derived from the Late Latin word Lama, which means marshland.

Early Origins of the Lama family

The surname Lama was first found in 1552 when Leonardo Lana was Bishop of Budua.

Early History of the Lama family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lama research. The years 1607, 1653 and 1764 are included under the topic Early Lama History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lama Spelling Variations

In comparison with other European surnames, Italian surnames have a surprising number of forms. They reflect the regional variations and the many dialects of the Italian language, each with its own distinctive features. For example, in Northern Italy the typical Italian surname suffix is "i", whereas in Southern Italy it is "o". Additionally, spelling changes frequently occurred because medieval scribes and church officials often spelled names as they sounded rather than according to any specific spelling rules. The spelling variations in the name Lama include Lami, Lamma, Lamieri, Lana, Lanna, Lanino and others.

Early Notables of the Lama family

Prominent among bearers of this family in early times was Bernardino Lanino, a 16th century painter whose most famous work lies in the Church of San Nazaro Maggiore in Milan and is entitled the Martyrdom of Saint Catherine. Giulio Lana was Bishop of Vulturara in 1607. Celso di Ferrando Lana was granted the title of Knight...
Another 55 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Lama Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lama migration to the United States +

Immigrants bearing the name Lama or a variant listed above include:

Lama Settlers in United States in the 16th Century

Diego Lama, who settled in America in 1514

Lama Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Diego De Lama, who landed in America in 1814 1
Isidero Lama, aged 30, who arrived in New Orleans La in 1829 1
Thomas Lama, aged 40, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1829 1
Manuel Lama, who arrived in Puerto Rico in 1842 1
Telesforo DeLa Lama, who landed in Puerto Rico in 1859 1
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Lama Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Antonnio Lama, aged 39, who immigrated to the United States from Naso, Sicily, in 1909
Alfredo Lama, aged 17, who immigrated to the United States from Catanzano S. Andrea, Italy, in 1911
Antonio Lama, aged 18, who immigrated to America from Ceprano, Italy, in 1912
Antonino Lama, aged 23, who landed in America from Floresta, Sicily, in 1914
Antonio Lama, aged 22, who landed in America from South Italy, in 1923

Contemporary Notables of the name Lama (post 1700) +

Lama W. Beane, American Republican politician, Candidate for West Virginia State Senate 9th District, 1948, 1952, 1956 2

Citations +

Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html