Show ContentsMagri History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The distinguished surname Magri 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 Magri came from a tall person. The surname Macri is derived from the Greek word makri, which means long or tall. Alternatively, the surname Macri is a local name that was originally derived from an ancient bishopric in the Roman imperial province of Mauritania Sitifiensis, in North Africa. This province was where the Aranian King Humerico expelled the Roman Catholics, including the Bishop of Macri, in 479 AD. The surname Macri was found in documents since the Middle Ages, particularly in regions where Greek and Neo-Greek influence was great, such as southern Italy.

Early Origins of the Magri family

The surname Magri was first found in Rome (Italian: Roma), the capital of the Kingdom of Italy, with earliest records showing Ambrosius Theodosius Macrobius, a writer and neo-Platonist philosopher during the 5th century.

Early History of the Magri family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Magri research. The years 1618 and 1707 are included under the topic Early Magri History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Magri Spelling Variations

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 Magri include Macri, Magri, Macrillo, Macrini and many more.

Early Notables of the Magri family

Prominent among members of the family was Stefano Macri, secretary of the King of Sicily in the 15th century; Algiazio Macris was the landlord of 10 territories...
Another 26 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Magri Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Magri migration to the United States +

An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Magri or a variant listed above:

Magri Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Angela Magri, aged 17, who landed in America from Mirto, Italy, in 1904
  • Amerinda Magri, aged 31, who settled in America from Naples, in 1906
  • Aldina Magri, aged 24, who settled in America from Seruide, Italy, in 1907
  • Annetta Magri, aged 19, who immigrated to the United States from Catania, Italy, in 1907
  • Achille Magri, aged 26, who immigrated to the United States from Lodi, Milano, in 1908
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Magri (post 1700) +

  • Pierluigi Magri (b. 1940), retired Italian footballer
  • Count Primo Magri (1849-1920), who also used the name Count Rosebud, stage names of a 19th-century Italian dwarf
  • Lucio Magri (1932-2011), Italian journalist and politician
  • Maher Magri (b. 1986), Tunisian footballer
  • John Magri (b. 1941), Maltese cyclist at the 1972 Summer Olympics
  • Fr. Emmanuel Magri S.J. (1851-1907), Maltese ethnographer, archaeologist and writer
  • Charlie Magri (b. 1956), former English flyweight boxer
  • Samuel John "Sam" Magri (b. 1994), English footballer
  • Jonathan Magri Overend (b. 1970), Maltese professional footballer who played for the Malta National Team in 1998


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