Degan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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Etymology of Degan

From the historical and fascinating Italian region of Venice emerged a multitude of noble families, including the distinguished Degan family. 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 common type of family name found in the region of Venice 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 Degan came from person employed as a Dean, who was an ecclesiastical official. The name was rendered in medieval documents in the Latin form "decanus," which originally meant a leader of ten men, which comes from the word "decem," which means ten. The name has traveled widely in many forms throughout Europe.

Early Origins of the Degan family

Early History of the Degan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Degan research. The years 1390, 1393, 1418, 1431, 1450 and 1750 are included under the topic Early Degan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Degan 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 Degan include Degani, Degano, Deganis, Degàn, Degan, De Gan, Deàn, Diano, Diani, Dal Degan, Deganutti, Deganùt, Deganut and many more.

Early Notables of the Degan family

Gaspare di Diano, born in Caserta in 1390, who owned many castles in Terra di Lavoro and in 1431 was called to Rome by Pope Eugenio IV to reform the Roman clergy. Nicola di Diano was a nobleman and ecclesiastic from Caserta in the 14th century, and was made bishop of Teano in 1393 by Bonifacio IX. The Diano family acquired noble status in Naples and...
Another 65 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Degan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.