Lagatta History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Italy

The distinguished surname Lagatta 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 Lagatta came from a person who was agile, cunning or perhaps sly.

Early Origins of the Lagatta family

The surname Lagatta was first found in the city of Gaeta, with the noble Gattola family in 1091.

Early History of the Lagatta family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lagatta research. The years 1431, 1500, 1522, 1571, 1723, 1750 and 1806 are included under the topic Early Lagatta History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lagatta Spelling Variations

There are many variations of most of those Italian names that originated in the medieval era. Some of these come from regional differences, like the tradition of ending northern names in "o" and southern names in "i". Others come from inaccuracies in the recording process, which were extremely common in the eras before dictionaries standardized spelling. Some of the spelling variations of Lagatta are Gatti, Gatto, Gatta, Gatte, Gattola, Gattinara, Gattamelata, Lo Gatto, La Gatta, Gattelli, Gattini, Gattoli, Gattolin, Gattulli, Gattullo, Gattai, Gattei, Gatteschi and many more.

Early Notables of the Lagatta family

Prominent among members of the family was Erasmo Gattamelata who was Commander of the Papal armies in 1431, and from this gained noble status in the Venetian Republic. Bernardino Gatti, a painter in Pavia around 1500, was known as "Il Solaro" and was dependent on famous painter Correggio for much of his style. Mercurino Gattinara was Grand Chancellor of Charles V and Count of Valenza, and in 1522 was made Duke of Milan by Francesco Sforza. He eventually became Bishop and then Cardinal. Simone Gatto was a Venetian composer...
Another 89 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Lagatta Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lagatta migration to the United States +

Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Lagatta or a variant listed above:

Lagatta Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Vincenza Lagatta, aged 22, who immigrated to the United States from Melfi, in 1902
Incoronata Lagatta, aged 15, who settled in America from Nelfi, Italy, in 1907
Maria Lagatta, aged 8, who immigrated to the United States from Nelfi, Italy, in 1907
Mattea Gerardo LaGatta, aged 19, who landed in America from Pousigliano, Italy, in 1909
Rita Lagatta, aged 30, who landed in America from Popoli, Italy, in 1910
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)