Santa History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Italy
Portugal
Spain

The surname Santa was originally a nickname bestowed upon someone who was born on All Saint's Day, the 1st of November, and is derived from the Latin "sanctorum."

Early Origins of the Santa family

The surname Santa was first found in Lucania, formerly Basilicata, is a territorial division of southern Italy which extended from Tyrrhenian sea, to the Gulf of Tarentum. It was named for Lucani who conquered it in the 5th century B.C. This large territory contained many towns and villages. In those ancient times only persons of rank, the podesta, clergy, city officials, army officers, artists, landowners were entered into the records. To be recorded at this time, at the beginning of recorded history, was of itself a great distinction and indicative of noble ancestry. The family held a family seat in Matero in Basilicata, otherwise known as Lucania. They were a distinguished noble family whose first records begin in 1198 when Eustachio Santoro was Baron of Cancellara.

Early History of the Santa family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Santa research. Another 111 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1476, 1507, 1532, 1537, 1559, 1569, 1574, 1600, 1602, 1649 and 1700 are included under the topic Early Santa History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Santa Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Santoro, Santori, Santora, Santorelli, Santoriello, Santorini and many more.

Early Notables of the Santa family

More information is included under the topic Early Santa Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Santa migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Santa Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

James Santa, who landed in Virginia in 1643 1

Santa Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Juan Santa, who arrived in Puerto Rico in 1803 1
Cristobal De Santa, who arrived in America in 1812 1
Antonio De Santa, who landed in America in 1813 1
Rafael De Santa, who arrived in America in 1813 1
Pedro De Santa, who landed in America in 1816 1
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Santa migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Santa Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Joseph Santa, aged 33, who landed in Quebec in 1868

Contemporary Notables of the name Santa (post 1700) +

Ronald G. Santa, American Republican politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Rhode Island 1st District, 1998
José Santa Cruz (1929-2024), Brazilian actor and comedian
Thomas Santa Lucia, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1964
Rosalinda Santa Cruz, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 1972
Fany Santa Chalas Frías (b. 1993), Dominican silver and bronze medalist sprinter
Santa Biondo (1892-1989), Italian-born, American opera star whose career spanned from 1927 to 1938.
Santa Claus, usually abbreviated Santa, is a figure in North American culture who reflects an amalgamation of the Dutch Sinterklaas, the English Father Christmas, and Christmas gift-bringers in other traditions
Santa Duroy, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New Jersey, 1988 2

Citations +

Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 4) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html