Show ContentsSforza History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name is from the Italian "sforza," which means "the forcer," and was taken on by powerful military families.

Early Origins of the Sforza family

The surname Sforza was first found in Rome (Italian: Roma), the capital of the Kingdom of Italy. Little can be said in the space available which would do justice to the history of this beautiful city. From 1000 B.C, its history is a book of life itself. The buildings, culture, arts, cathedrals, churches, museums galleries hold untold treasures unequalled anywhere else in the world.In those ancient times only persons of rank, the podesta, clergy, city officials, army officers, artists, landowners were entered into the records.

Early History of the Sforza family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sforza research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1369, 1424, 1440, 1450, 1455, 1505, 1507, 1535, 1603 and 1676 are included under the topic Early Sforza History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sforza Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Szfora, Szfore, Szfori and others.

Early Notables of the Sforza family

Prominent among members of the family was

  • Muzio Attendolo Sforza (1369-1424), a farmer from Romagna who became a noted condottiere, fighting in the service of several Italian States
  • his son Francesco I Sforza, became the duke of Milan in 1450 through his marriage to Bianca Maria Visconti
  • Ascanio Maria Sforza (1455-1505), a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church and known to have been a patron of the arts
  • Ginevra Sforza (1440-1507), the wife and counselor of Giovanni II Bentivoglio, lord of Bologna
  • Federico Sforza (1603-1676), an Italian Catholic Cardinal


United States Sforza migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Sforza Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Nicola Sforza, who arrived at New York on Jan. 13, 1882 aboard the "Elysia"
  • Giacomo Sforza, who arrived at New York on Dec. 17, 1890
  • Angelo Sforza of Mirabella, who arrived at Ellis Island, New York in 1893
  • Fiorangelo Sforza of Pietrabendante, Italy, who arrived at Ellis Island, New York in 1893

Contemporary Notables of the name Sforza (post 1700) +

  • Caterina Sforza (1463-1509), Countess of Forlì, an Italian noblewoman
  • Tommaso Riario Sforza (1782-1857), Italian Neapolitan Cardinal
  • Sisto Riario Sforza (1810-1877), Italian cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church
  • Battista Sforza (1447-1472), Italian Duchess of Urbino and second wife of Federico da Montefeltro
  • Seraphina Sforza (1434-1478), Italian noblewoman and nun
  • Sofia Sforza (b. 1995), Italian ice dancer
  • Giovanni Sforza (1466-1510), Italian condottiero, lord of Pesaro and Gradara
  • Bianca Maria Sforza (1472-1510), Italian Holy Roman Empress as the second wife of Maximilian I
  • Count Carlo Sforza (1872-1952), Italian diplomat and anti-Fascist politician
  • Alessandro Sforza (1409-1473), Italian condottiero and lord of Pesaro
  • ... (Another 6 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


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