Hereditary family names gradually came into usage in Italy beginning 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 was the patronymic surname, derived from the father's given name. The surname Petrarca came from the personal name Pietro, or Peter, which is itself derived from the Greek word "petrus" meaning "rock."
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Early Origins of the Petrarca family
The surname Petrarca was first found in "del Valdarno superiore" where the name goes back to the 13th century.
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Early History of the Petrarca family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Petrarca research. The years 1290, 1304, 1341 and 1374 are included under the topic Early Petrarca History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Petrarca Spelling Variations
Spelling variations of this family name include: Petrarca, Petrarcha, Petrarchi and others.
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Early Notables of the Petrarca family
Prominent among members of the family was
Francesco Petrarca or Petrarch (1304-1374) highly influential Italian poet, scholar, and humanist...
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Migration of the Petrarca family
Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Giovanni Petrarca, who arrived in New York on April 23, 1883, aboard the "Brittania"; C. Petrarca, who arrived in New York on May 4, 1886 aboard the ".
Contemporary Notables of the name Petrarca (post 1700)
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David Petrarca (b. 1962), American director and producer of theatre, television, and film
Private First Class Frank J Petrarca (1918-1943), American soldier awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1943
Peter John Petrarca, American politician, member of the Rhode Island state House of Representatives (2002-)
Italy
