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| Origins Available: |
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The distinguished surname Gravina originated in an area of Italy, known as the Papal States. 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 the Papal States is the patronymic surname, which is derived from the father's given name, the nickname type of surname is also frequently found. Nickname surnames were derived from an eke-name, or added name. They usually reflected the physical characteristics or attributes of the first person that used the name. The surname Gravina came from the personal name Grazia. The name is originally Latin from the name Gratius. The name Gratius was originally derived from the word gratus, which means dear, beloved.
The surname Gravina was first found in the region of Umbria, in the ancient city of Perugia, well known today for the large number of foreign students at its University. Records are found dating to 1232, when Giacomo Graziani was made General Captain of the Florentine Republic and was forced to go against the Sienese forces.
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gravina research. The years 1339, 1503, 1601, 1658, 1659, 1664, 1718 and 1782 are included under the topic Early Gravina History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Enormous variation in spelling and form characterizes those Italian names that originated in the medieval era. This is caused by two main factors: regional tradition, and inaccuracies in the recording process. Before the last few hundred years, scribes spelled names according to their sounds. Spelling variations were the unsurprising result. The variations of Gravina include Grazia, Grazi, Grazzi, Di Grazia, Delle Grazie, Grazzini, Grazioli, Graziotti, Graziosi, Grazioso, Graziuso, Graziussi and many more.
Prominent among members of the family was
Immigrants bearing the name Gravina or a variant listed above include:
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: