Show ContentsPastoressa Surname History

Sicily, one of the oldest and most beautiful island regions of Italy, is the esteemed birthplace of numerous prominent families, including the family that bears the surname Pastoressa. 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 common type of family name found in Sicily is the patronymic surname, which is derived from the father's givenname, names derived from occupations are also found. Occupational surnames, which are less common than other types of surnames in Italy, date back to the feudal era. However, under the Feudal System, occupational names did not become hereditary until the offices themselves became hereditary. It was only after an occupation was inherited by several generations in lineal descent that occupational names came to be applied to entire families, and so became a hereditary surname. The surname Pastoressa is a common occupational name for a shepherd. The surname Pastoressa is derived from the Italian word pastore, which literally means shepherd. It originally comes from the Latin words pastorius or pastorino, which means pastor. This surname appeared in several places at the same time and spread rapidly because a shepherd is one of the most popular and oldest occupations of the world.

Early Origins of the Pastoressa family

The surname Pastoressa was first found in Syracuse in 1332, when Corrado Pasturella, who was elected to the Sicilian government.

Early History of the Pastoressa family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pastoressa research. The years 1429, 1651, 1664 and 1719 are included under the topic Early Pastoressa History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pastoressa 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 Pastoressa include Pastore, Pastori, Pastor, Pastoressa, Pasturella, Pastorio, Pastoris, Pastorius, Pastorello, Pastrello, Pastorelli, Pastorella, Pastorino and many more.

Early Notables of the Pastoressa family

Prominent among bearers of this surname in early times was Gerardo Pasturella, Senator in Lentini and Governor of the region of Sicily in 1429. Girolamo Pastorio was made a Knight of Castiglione in 1664 by Prince Ferdinando Gonzaga. The Pastorio family in Mantua was eventually officially recognized as nobility...
Another 49 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Pastoressa Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Pastoressa family

A look at the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Pastoressa: Frederick Pastorius, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1861.



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