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An excerpt from www.HouseOfNames.com archives copyright © 2000 - 2013

Where did the Italian Cristina family come from? What is the Italian Cristina family crest and coat of arms? When did the Cristina family first arrive in the United States? Where did the various branches of the family go? What is the Cristina family history?

The distinguished surname Cristina can be traced back to the ancient and beautiful region of Sicily, which is located off Southwestern Italy and incorporates the island of Sicily itself, the area of Naples, and the southern part of the Italian peninsula. 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 were characterized by a profusion of derivatives coined from given names. The most common type of family name found in the region of Sicily is the patronymic surname, which is derived from the father's given name. During the Middle Ages, Italians adopted the patronymic system of name-making because it perfectly complemented the prevailing Feudal System. In Italy the popularity of patronymic type of surname is also due to the fact that during the Christian era, people often named their children after saints and biblical figures. The surname Cristina was derived from the Latin given name Cristianus, which means belonging to Christ.

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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 Cristina. These spelling variations include Cristini, Cristani, Cristano, Cristino, Cristina, De Cristina and many more.

First found in the year 1258, when members of the Cristano family were officially recognized as nobility in Taranto.


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This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cristina research. More information is included under the topic Early Cristina History in all our PDF Extended History products.

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Another 55 words(4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cristina Notables in all our PDF Extended History products.

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A search of the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Cristina:

Cristina Settlers in the United States in the 20th Century


  • Alessio Cristina, aged 24, who landed in America from Montefalcone, in 1906
  • Antonio Cristina, aged 16, who emigrated to the United States from Tusa, in 1906
  • Antonino Cristina, aged 40, who settled in America from Cusa, Italy, in 1907
  • Antonio Cristina, aged 28, who landed in America from Castel Di Lucio, Sicily, in 1907
  • Antonia Cristina, aged 14, who emigrated to the United States from Italy, in 1909


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  • Ana Cristina Álvarez (b. 1985), American-born, Cuban singer-songwriter
  • Olinto Cristina (1888-1962), Italian film actor who appeared in 75 films between 1932 and 1957
  • Dona Teresa Cristina (1822-1889), Empress consort of Emperor Dom Pedro II of Brazil from 1831 to 1889, nicknamed "the Mother of the Brazilians"
  • Maria Cristina of Savoy (1812-1836), first Queen consort of Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies
  • Albert Maximo Cristina (b. 1970), Dutch volleyball player
  • Dolores Cristina (b. 1949), Maltese politician, Minister of Education
  • Jessica Cristina (b. 1975), Puerto Rican merengue artist and pop singer


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The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Nil inferiora morantur
Motto Translation: Nil inferiora morantur

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  1. Glazier, Ira A. and P. Williams Filby Edition. Italians to America. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield. Print.
  2. Battilana, Natale, Ed. Genealogie Dello Famiglie Nobili di Genova. Genova: Fratelli Pagano, 1825. Print.
  3. Colletta, John P. They Came In Ships. Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1993. Print.
  4. Di Crollalanza, G.B. Dizionario Storico-Blasonico Delle Famiglie Nobili e Notabili Italiane 3 volumes. Pisa. Print.
  5. Rietstap, Johannes Baptist. Armorial Général. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. Print.
  6. Crozier, William Armstrong Edition. Crozier's General Armory A Registry of American Families Entitled to Coat Armor. New York: Fox, Duffield, 1904. Print.
  7. Fucilla, Josheph G. Our Italian Surnames. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1987. Print. (ISBN 0806311878).
  8. Bascapč, Giacomo and Marcello del Piazzo. Insegne e Simboli Araldica pubblica e privata medievale e moderna. Rome: 1983. Print.
  9. Colletta, John P. Finding Italian Roots The Complete Guide for Americans. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 2003. Print.
  10. Gheno, Antonio. Contributo alla Bibliografia Genealogica Italiana. Bologna: Forni, 1924. Print.
  11. ...

The Cristina Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Cristina Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.

This page was last modified on 4 October 2012 at 08:39.

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