Show ContentsCipriano History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

A variety of distinguished and notable names have emerged from the beautiful and historical Italian region of Tuscany, including the notable surname Cipriano. During the Middle Ages, as populations grew and travel between regions became more frequent, the people of Tuscany, who were originally known only by a single name, found it necessary to adopt a second name to identify themselves and their families. This process of adopting fixed hereditary surnames in Italy began in the 10th and 11th centuries, but it was not completed until the modern era. The development of Italian hereditary surnames followed general principles and were characterized by derivatives from one's given name. The patronymic surname, which is derived from the father's given name, was one of the most common name types found in the region of Tuscany. This system of name-making was widely used because it linked well with the existing Feudal System and during the Christian era, many people named their children after saints and biblical figures. The surname Cipriano came from the Greek name kyprios, which literally means Cyprus or the tree island. The name became popular in Italy due to the fame of Saint Cipriani, the Bishop of Cartagine who was martyred in 258. In those early centuries, with the spread of Christianity, parents often named their children after saints in the hope of invoking that particular saint's protection over the child in later years.

Early Origins of the Cipriano family

The surname Cipriano was first found in Florence (Italian: Firenze), where in the 12th century Arrigo Cipriano was a knight of Emperor Corrado registered in Florence.

Early History of the Cipriano family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cipriano research. The years 1660, 1727, 1738, 1754, 1765, 1766, 1770, 1790, 1791 and 1850 are included under the topic Early Cipriano History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cipriano Spelling Variations

In comparison with other European surnames, Italian surnames have a surprising number of forms. They reflect the regional variations and the many dialects of the Italian language, each with its own distinctive features. For example, in Northern Italy the typical Italian surname suffix is "i", whereas in Southern Italy it is "o". Additionally, spelling changes frequently occurred because medieval scribes and church officials often spelled names as they sounded rather than according to any specific spelling rules. The spelling variations in the name Cipriano include Cipri, Cipro, Cipriani, and Cipriano and others.

Early Notables of the Cipriano family

Prominent among members of the family was Lamberto Cipriani of Florence, a member of the Ghibelline faction and a pacifist dedicated to ending the fighting between castles in the region during the late 13th century; Giovanni Cipri of Modena was an organ builder during the 16th century, and his brother Giuliano Cipri was of the same profession; Sebastiano Cipriani was an artist in Siena around 1660 whose works can be seen today in the Museum of Design in New York city; Giambattista Cipriani was a painter in...
Another 87 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cipriano Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cipriano Ranking

In the United States, the name Cipriano is the 12,081st most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1


United States Cipriano migration to the United States +

Early records show that people bearing the name Cipriano arrived in North America quite early:

Cipriano Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Angelo Sante Cipriano, aged 27, who landed in America from Callarneno, in 1903
  • Andrea Cipriano, aged 24, who landed in America from Giocosa Marena, Italy, in 1905
  • Angelo Cipriano, aged 23, who landed in America from Ceccano, Roma, in 1909
  • Angelo Cipriano, aged 24, who immigrated to the United States from Augusta Sicily, in 1910
  • Angela Cipriano, aged 8, who landed in America from Aderno, Italy, in 1911
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Cipriano (post 1700) +

  • Gene Cipriano (1928-2022), American woodwindist and session musician, member of The Wrecking Crew who recorded music for numerous television shows including Batman, The Flintstones, M*A*S*H*, Mission Impossible, Star Trek, The Simpsons, and American Dad
  • Renee Cipriano, American former director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
  • Joe Cipriano (1931-1980), American college basketball player
  • Joe Cipriano (b. 1954), American voice actor, announcer for the 58th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards and announcer for the Grammy Awards many times
  • Frank Cipriano, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Ohio, 2004 2
  • Carmine Cipriano, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Connecticut, 1940 2
  • Olimpio Cipriano (b. 1982), Angolan three-time gold medalist basketball player
  • Marcos Antonio Aparecido Cipriano (b. 1973), Brazilian footballer
  • Marcelo dos Santos Cipriano (b. 1969), Brazilian-Portuguese footballer
  • Cipriano Muñoz (1862-1933), 2nd Count of la Viñaza, Spanish diplomat and academic


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 17) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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