Show ContentsLicastro History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Licastro family can trace its noble origins to the Italian region of Piedmont. Although people were originally known only by a single name, it became necessary for people to adapt 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 Piedmont 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 Licastro family lived in Genoa, a prosperous city in Piedmont which at one time was a rival with Venice in terms of commerce and trade.

Early Origins of the Licastro family

The surname Licastro was first found in Genoa (Italian: Genova), a prosperous city in Piedmont which at one time was a rival with Venice in terms of commerce and trade.

Early History of the Licastro family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Licastro research. Another 43 words (3 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1360, 1550, 1597 and 1687 are included under the topic Early Licastro History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Licastro Spelling Variations

Italian 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 Licastro include Castro, Castri, De Castri, De Castris, Lo Castro, Lo Casto, Li Castri, Licastri, Li Castro, Licastro, Castrogiovanni, Castronovo, Castronuovo and many more.

Early Notables of the Licastro family

Prominent among members of the family was Giovanni Castroceli who was made Cardinal in Aquila by Pope Celestino V; Nicola Castroceli was made Bishop of Aquila by this pope in 1296; Paolo di Castro, born in the town of Castro in 1360, was a soldier in the Papal army; Angelo da Castro was...
Another 53 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Licastro Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Licastro family

Some of the first North American settlers with Licastro name or one of its variants: C. Castro, who arrived in New York City in 1823; M. Castro settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1877; Accursia Castronovo, aged 56, who arrived at Ellis Island from Sciacca, Sicily, in 1910.



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