Show ContentsMagro History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The distinguished surname Magro 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 Magro 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 Magro family

The surname Magro 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 Magro family

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

Magro 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 Magro are Macri, Magri, Macrillo, Macrini and many more.

Early Notables of the Magro 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 Magro Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Magro Ranking

In France, the name Magro is the 7,024th most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 1


Magro 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 Magro or a variant listed above:

Magro Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Antonio Magro, aged 27, who landed in America from Muro Lucano, Italy, in 1893
Magro Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Carlo Magro, aged 48, who immigrated to the United States from Casselvaccio, Italy, in 1907
  • Antonino Magro, aged 17, who landed in America from Calatafima, Sicily, in 1909
  • Antonino Magro, aged 47, who immigrated to America from Calatafino, Palermo, in 1909
  • Antonio Magro, aged 6, who immigrated to the United States from Portici, Italy, in 1912
  • Agata Magro, aged 26, who landed in America from Palermo, Sicily, in 1912
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Magro (post 1700) +

  • Marc Anthony Magro (b. 1984), American football linebacker
  • Louie Magro (b. 1964), Italian professional footballer
  • Feliciano "Felix" Magro (b. 1979), Italian–Swiss footballer
  • Sylvester Carmel Magro (1941-2018), Maltese prelate, Apostolic Vicar of Benghazi (1997–2016)
  • Stan Magro (b. 1954), former Australian rules footballer


  1. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/


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