Damien History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsFrom the ancient and picturesque Italian region of Venice emerged a variety of distinguished names, including the notable surname Damien. 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 Damien surname is derived from the Latin given name "Damianus," which in turn comes from the name of a Greek goddess, Damia. There was an early Christian saint named Damian, martyred in Cilicia in the year 303, under emperor Domitian. There was also a St. Damian, who lived in the 7th-8th centuries, where he was the bishop of Pavia. These two saints, no doubt have contributed the popularity of this name. Early Origins of the Damien familyThe surname Damien was first found in the Italian region of "Veneto" which later became the city of Venice as early as the year 921. Early History of the Damien familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Damien research. Another 33 words (2 lines of text) covering the years 1233, 1285, 1300, 1400, 1584 and 1606 are included under the topic Early Damien History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Damien Spelling VariationsItalian surnames come in far more variations than the names of most other nationalities. Regional traditions and dialects are a decisive factor in this characteristic. For example, northern names tend to end in "o", while southern in "i". Also important, but not unique to Italy, was the fact that before dictionaries and the printing press most scribes simply spelled words according to their sounds. The predictable result was an enormous number of spelling variations. The recorded spellings of Damien include Damiani, Damiano, Damian, Damien, Damiàn and others. Early Notables of the Damien familyProminent among members of the family was Lorenzo Damiani of Pisa, a 14th century poet famous for his sonnets of a smooth style. Francesco Damiani, born in Pisa around 1300, was a respected man of letters; the Damiani family was one of the most ancient families in Genoa and dates back to... Damien RankingIn France, the name Damien is the 2,876th most popular surname with an estimated 2,000 - 2,500 people with that name. 1
Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Damien or a variant listed above: Damien Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
Damien Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Damien Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century
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