Show ContentsPica History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Pica is derived from the central southern Italian word "pica" meaning a "magpie;" as such, it was likely originally a nickname for a gossipy or wordy person.

Early Origins of the Pica family

The surname Pica was first found in Treviso anciently Tarvisium, a town in Venetia, capital of the province of Treviso. The cathedral of San Pietro is notable and dates back to 1141. It is classical style with seven domes with works by many notable painters and sculptors. The Piazza dei Signori has many palaces. In the 6th century this town was a seat of a Lombard duke. Charlemagne held it. Later it was Venetian. In those ancient times only persons of rank, the podesta, clergy, city officials, army officers, artists, landowners were entered into the records. To be recorded at this time, at the beginning of recorded history, was of itself a great distinction and indicative of noble ancestry. The name is taken from Picardy, a region in Northern France; it would have been given to a man who came to Italy from Picardy, which explains the higher concentration of the name in the north; France is north-west of Italy; so Tuscany would be one of the first places in Italy that someone coming from France would pass through, especially if they were coming by sea to avoid crossing the mountains.

Early History of the Pica family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pica research. Another 103 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1571, 1631, 1674, 1690, 1708 and 1883 are included under the topic Early Pica History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pica Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Pica, Picarella, Picariello, Picarelli, Picini, Picarini, Picasso, Picapra, Picalei, Picardi and many more.

Early Notables of the Pica family

Prominent among members of the family was

  • Francesco Picarelli (1631-1708), Italian Roman Catholic prelate, Bishop of Narni (1690-1708.) He was born in Sarnano, Italy on 3 March 1631 and was ordained a deacon on 10 March 1674 and ordained a pr...

Pica Ranking

In the United States, the name Pica is the 17,611st most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1


Pica migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Pica Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Rocca Pica, age 14, who arrived in America on March 1, 1880, aboard the "Ethiopia"
  • Angelo Pica, age 23, who arrived in America on May 6, 1881, aboard the "Caldera"
  • Camillo Pica, age 15, who arrived in America on April 26, 1882, aboard the "Scandinavia"
  • Maddalena Pica, age 36, who arrived at New York on May 29, 1884, aboard the "Gottardo"
  • Giovanni Pica, age 33, who arrived in New York on Dec. 9, 1885, aboard the "Burgundia"

Contemporary Notables of the name Pica (post 1700) +

  • Teresa P. Pica, American professor of education at University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education
  • Pierre Pica (b. 1951), American research associate at the National Center for Scientific Research
  • Joe Pica (1923-1973), American pianist nicknamed "The Wizard of the Keys"
  • Maria Pica, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Maryland, 1996
  • John A. Pica Jr. (b. 1952), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Maryland State House of Delegates District 43, 1979-82; Member of Maryland State Senate 43rd District, 1983-90
  • James Pica, American politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from New Jersey 10th District, 1942
  • Felice Pica, American politician, Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from Hartford, 1936
  • Salvatore Pica (1939-2022), Italian art and design entrepreneur; he died from COVID-19
  • Tina Pica (1884-1968), Italian supporting actress who played character roles on stage
  • Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Pica Serrano (1933-2014), Spanish actor, known for Delusions of Grandeur (1971), Travels with My Aunt (1972) and The Killer with a Thousand Eyes (1974)


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/


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