Piazza History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Italy

From the ancient and picturesque Italian region of Venice emerged a variety of distinguished names, including the notable surname Piazza. Although people were originally known only by a single name, it became necessary for people to adopt 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 Venice is the patronymic surname, which is derived from the father's given name, local surnames are also found. Local names, which are the least frequent of the major types of surnames found in Italy, are derived from a place-name where the original bearer once resided or held land. Often Italian local surnames bore the prefix "di," which signifies emigration from one place to another, but does not necessarily denote nobility. The Piazza family lived in the place named Piazza, of which there are several cities still found in Italy today.

Early Origins of the Piazza family

The surname Piazza was first found in the town of Parma, with the Piazza family, nobility in the city in the 10th century.

Early History of the Piazza family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Piazza research. The years 1657, 1712, 1726 and 1800 are included under the topic Early Piazza History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Piazza 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 Piazza include Piazza, Piazzi, Piaz, Del Piazzo, Del Piaz, Piazzini, Piazzoni, Piazzola, Piazzolla, Piazzoli, Piazzese and many more.

Early Notables of the Piazza family

Prominent among members of the family was

the many individuals of the Piazzoni family were of noble status in Serravalle from the 16th century. Camillo Piazza was Bishop of Dragonia in 1657
of this family was Ludovico Piazza, Bishop of Forlì in 1726
Giulio Piazza was Archbishop of Rodi, ambassador to Giuseppe I of Austria, and in 1712 was made Cardinal by Pope Clemente XI. Giuseppe Piazza was an astronomer and monk who became a mathematics profes...

Piazza Ranking

In the United States, the name Piazza is the 4,845^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Piazza is ranked the 3,338^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,000 - 2,500 people with that name. 2

Piazza migration to the United States +

A look at the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Piazza:

Piazza Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Frank Piazza, who landed in Mississippi in 1867 3
John Piazza, who arrived in Mississippi in 1875 3

Piazza Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Accursia Piazza, aged 25, who landed in America from Sciacca, Italy, in 1906
Adehide Piazza, aged 9, who landed in America from Misilinsi, Italy, in 1906
Alberto Piazza, aged 48, who immigrated to America from Burgio, Girgenti, in 1908
Agostino Piazza, aged 34, who landed in America from Termini, Palermo, in 1909
Agostino Piazza, aged 3, who immigrated to the United States from Germini, Sicily, in 1912
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Piazza (post 1700) +

Anna Di Piazza, American Republican politician, Candidate for New York State Senate 18th District, 1984 4
Vincent Piazza, American film, television and stage actor
Rod Piazza (b. 1947), American blues harmonica player and singer
Michael Joseph "Mike" Piazza (b. 1968), American former Major League Baseball catcher
Marguerite Piazza (b. 1926), American soprano and entertainer
Verne Piazza, American politician, Candidate for Michigan superintendent of public instruction, 1951
Lenore Piazza, American politician, Candidate for Presidential Elector for Michigan, 1952
John C. Piazza, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Pennsylvania State House of Representatives from Allegheny County 14th District, 1964
Frank A. Piazza, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1952
Federico Piazza (b. 1987), Italian professional football player
... (Another 3 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Piazza family +

RMS Titanic

Signore Pompeo Piazza (d. 1912), aged 30, English Waiter from London, England who worked aboard the RMS Titanic, died in the sinking and was recovered by CS Mackay-Bennett 5

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 25) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html