SICILIAN THE NOBLE FAMILIES: Some A,B & C Surnames

The pride of Sicily is not only the imposing of its landscapes, the richness of the monuments sacred and profane, heritage tourism events and testimony from historians who lived, and the typical products such as cheese, citrus fruits, cakes and work industries, but also social and historical importance of some noble families who have contributed so much, for better or worse, to build day after day, the history of Sicily.

There are many noble families in Sicily who deserve mention.

The family Abbadelli or Abbatelli is originally from Lucca and Transplant in Sicily in 1237 with dulce.
In 1431 John purchased by the county of Moncada Cammarata.
Holder was also the baronies of Stone and Cefalà.
His son Richard obtained the title of Count of Cammarata in 1451.
A branch of this family is present in Catania, where there is a noble palace that belonged to the family (after the Monastery of Piety) and which still bears the coat of arms, a field of gold with a black griffin rampant.

The Abbate family or Abbati Papyrus comes from a Roman knight who left his possessions to his son to retire to a monastery, the death of his son, who had no heirs, leaving the dress Papiro cassock and takes his wife.
From here use to call her children "of ABB."
Among the representatives of that family who had contacts with Sicily are mentioned:
Henry, treasurer of Frederick II;
S. Brother Alberto, leader of the Mount Caramel;
Ignazio Vincenzo, owner of the title of Marquis of Longarini.

Abriguano The family arrived in Sicily at the beginning of 1300.
Among the major exponents of this family are mentioned:
Mauritius holding important positions in Trapani;
Francis, Captain Justice;
Henry I, holder of the barony of Regalmuto;
Henry II, Vicar General of arms, in Val di Mazzara;
Joseph, owner of the barony of Saline di Trapani.

Adam is the family of origin Lombard and Transplant in Sicily with the leader Childeberto.
Among its major representatives are:
Anthony, curator of the R. Heritage Promastro Justice of the Kingdom;
Celestri, founder of the monastery of women of Caltagirone;
James Knight gerosolmitano.

The family has Alliata Agliata or representatives in Greece, France and Italy.
The family moved to Sicily in 1300 when Pisa leaves to escape the persecution of the Visconti.
Among its major representatives can quote Filippone on which the principles of Villafranca and the barons only.
This family was the owner of several important state offices such as president, the vicar general, senator and praetor.
Some representatives were Knights of Malta, Calatrava, S. Gennaro.
It is currently in Palermo and was divided into three distinct branches, one of the principles of Villafranca and the Dukes of Salaparuta, that of the dukes of Saponara and that of the Dukes of Pietretagliate.

Amari's family is originally from Trapani.
Among his most important are:
Leonardo, provveditore real palace at the time of Frederick III;
Philip, son of the previous holder of the fief of Gibilvasili within the territory of Salemi;
James, owner of the barony of Marineo and Risalaimi;
Anthony, owner of the fiefdoms of, and Ficuzza Casalicchio.
Emerico, brother of the former, an illustrious philosopher, statesman and criminal of the nineteenth century and holds many distinguished positions, such as criminal law professor at Palermo and vice-chairman of the House of municipalities of Sicily in 1848.

Amato is the family of Spanish origin and arrived in Sicily at the time of Peter of Aragon, just in 1282.
His first known representatives are Bernard and Pagano and for their merits and won the feuds and kinship with the Peralta family of Caltabellotta.
Among its major representatives are:
John, Baron of Zaffo;
Thomas, owner of several estates in Messina;
Philip, on three occasions senator, deputy and captain of the kingdom of justice, Prince of Galati and the holder of the barony of hunting.

The family of Palermo Ansaldi is originally from Nicosia.
This family is separated into two distinct branches:
This is the first to Castrogiovanni and Mazzarino and lapses in the noble family of Grimaldi Geracello;
The second branch remains in Nicosia, one of its members please note John, marquis of Spataro, the husband of Lady Carolina Ventimiglia principles of Grammont.

The family originated from Ansalone Ladislaus, knight of Pannonia and governor of Messina.
It boasts among its members many senators in Messina and the Knights of Malta, and they derive from the principles of Roccacolomba and the Mount Royal Dukes.
Among these figures are mentioned:
Christmas, one of the proponents of the War of the Vespers, the holder of an office of master and execute the Army captain;
Peter, an economist and owner of Castle Comiso;
Bonsignore II, owner of the barony of Fimedinnisi;
Ascanio, owner of the land baron of the Mount Royal and the feud Market Rocca, who was the first duke to grant directed; also held other positions such as the rational master of real property and was also the first Marquis of Sorrentino.

The Arena family includes two branches.
The branch covers the Lords Messina of Messina, Caltagirone and Lentini and has a close relationship with the barons of Montechiaro and Roccadore. The family added a second last name no less distinguished than that already possessed becoming Prime Arena.
The branch boasts Palermo illustrious personalities such as Federico, owner of several judicial offices, Prime consultant for the King of Sicily Affairs and Counselor Dean of the Real Santa Chiara in Naples.
His heirs were Joseph, the brilliant career in the judiciary, and Elizabeth, wife of Charles Baron Mortillaro of cyanide.

The family has a history Ascenso old.
The first member of this family that has contacts with Sicily was John, the Catalan nobleman who in 1283 went to Sicily with the task of dell'infante waiter Federico.
Among the other distinguished members of this family are:
Matteo II, knight and court jury of Girgenti;
Stephen, Governor of the countryside of Modica, where he settled with his family;
Peter, owner of the fief of Santa Rosalia in Val di Noto.

The family home is Balsamo lombarda and Transplant in Sicily in the twelfth century, precisely at Messina, by Maurizio Balsamo.
Among its major representatives are:
James, in the service of King Ferdinand the Catholic and holder of several titles as captain of arms of Milazzo, vicar-general, lord of the town of Taormina and its houses;
Peter, Marquis of Limina, knight of St. James of the Sword and straricoto of Messina;
Viperino Francesco, Prince of Resuttana, senator and mayor of Messina.

The Barresi family is of French origin and arrived in Sicily by Abbo (in the wake of Conte Ruggero).
Among others, are mentioned:
Arcibao, governor of Messina;
Thomas, owner of the Duchy of Castrovillari in Calabria and the countryside of Newfoundland;
Peter, Prince of Pietraperzia, first Marquis of Barrafranca and vicar general of Catania and Siracusa.

The noble and ancient family Beccadelli spread in Palermo in early 1300 by Vannino.
This family has distinguished representatives of the caliber of:
Antonio Panorma the philosopher who holds many offices and fiefs;
Simon, archbishop of Palermo;
John, captain of Palermo and rational of the court maestro de r. heritage;
Francis, Baron of Altavilla and first Marquis of that state;
Peter, son of the previous holder of the title of Prince of Camporeale and Marquise of Sambuca.

The Benedetto family has distinguished representatives of the caliber of:
Andrea, the notary in Palermo in 1282;
Andrew II, gentleman of Ferdinand II and directed the Governor of the cavalry.
From a book of memories about this family it appears that one of the branches of that Pisans moves to Palermo in the fourteenth century.

The family Beneventano, it seems, comes from the noble Orsini family of Rome and gave birth to many Venetian Doges.
It moves to Sicily by Matthew Orsileo which was followed dell'infante Federico.
Its representatives, possesori of different titles, were the barons of the Court, the Woods and Schifano, and even noble in Syracuse, Lentini, Modica and barons of the Court.

The noble family Benincasa is one of the most famous baronial families of Messina.
It is divided into two classes: the first develops and remains in Sicily and the second he moved to Bologna, Perugia, Prato and Siena.
Among its major representatives are:
Pier Leone, secretary of the Emperor Frederick II;
John Conrad, Conrad's secretary and adviser of King Manfredi;
Eustachio, valiant fighter.

The family Bonaiuto has a wide range of accounts and its exponents have been distinguished positions.
Among them are:
John, owner of the land of Melilli;
Antonio, brother of the previous owner of the castle and fief of dare;
Frà Francis, Knight gerosolmitano and admiral.

The Bonanno family accepts the principles of Linguaglossa, the Barons of Major and Delia, the principles of the Catholic, the Dukes of Montalbano, the line of Dukes of Castellana, the line with the principles of Linguaglossa, many praetor, senators and knights gerosolmitani.
From this family branch off other lines, such as that of the Barons of Polino Caltagirone and barons Bonanno of Syracuse.
It draws its origins from Pisa, but he moved to Sicily by Giangiacomo and Caesar who left their hometown to escape the conflict with a local family.
Among its major representatives are:
James I, the vicar general of Naro;
James II, the vicar general of the kingdom;
Roman Column, Baron of Canicattì and first Duke of Montalbano;
Peter, first prince of Roccafiorita Castellamare and Baron of the Gulf;
Orazio Bonanno Gioeni and the first holder of the title of the principles of Linguaglossa, and Baron of Ravanusa Carrancino and Belvedere.

The family has the labels Bonfiglio Barons of Carmo.
From its origins in Germany, the family has many contacts with Italy.
The first to settle in Sicily were Filiberto and Ladislao.
Among its major representatives are:
Ludwig, owner of Castellania of Lentini and treasurer general;
Nicholas, son of the former and defender of Augusta against Angevins;
Philip, first holder of the barony of Condrò;
Gianfilippo first holder of the barony of Gatteri.

The Bonomo family is originally from Trieste, and branches off in several Italian cities.
It moves to Sicily by Scipione that made several acquisitions in the area of Nicosia.
Among the other members of this family are mentioned:
Antonino, brought his family to Polizzi;
Joseph, first Marquis of Casale di Catania.

The Borgia family has one of its representatives to the principles of course, the Marquis of House and many famous people of the caliber of the Popes Calixtus III and Alexander IV.
It is divided into several branches, one of whom moved to Sicily.
Among the leading representatives of that class are:
William, gentleman of the king Martino received fiefs of the territory of Lentini and a farmhouse in the territory of Noto;
Frà Joseph Knight gerosolmitano.

Branciforte family arrived in Sicily by William at the time of King Frederick II.
Among the most important are:
Raphael, owner of the castle and the town of Piazza; gained possession of the fief of Grassuliato and feuds of Condrò and Gatto;
Thomas, owner of County Mazzarrino;
Fabrizio, Prince of storm, marchese di Militello and Prince of Pietraperzia;
Imara, founder of the monastery of stigmata in Palermo destroyed at the end of 1800;
Savior, Prince of Butera and counselor of state.

The family has Busacca noble French origins and he moved to Messina.
Among the famous names are:
Michele, tax lawyer;
Michael II, first Marquis of Gallidoro;
Michael III, distinguished scientist;
Charles, Marquis of Gallidoro.

Caetano family is divided between Naples and Sicily.
In the latter case is represented as a number of illustrious knights gerosolmitani and important men of the caliber of:
Peter, chairman of the kingdom because of feuds holder of course, Dirillo, Calatabiano and Tripi;
Peter II, Baron of Cassaro in 1619;
Cesare, Marquis of first Sortino and first Prince of Cassaro in early 1600.

The family camp Transplant in Sicily by Frederick, owner of the lordship of Caltabellotta and Bivona.
It has eminent owners of major titles such as Captain Justice and senator, and several possessions.

The noble family Catalan Transplant Cannizzaro in Sicily by Thomas that got the Castellania Newfoundland from King Peter I as a reward for his services.
Among its representatives are:
Bernardo, owner of certain lands in Catalabiano;
John, juror Noto;
Mario, the holder of the office of regent in the king.

Dearest family of origin is from Bologna, and arrived in Sicily by Pascotto in the first half of 1400.
A branch of this family moved to Trapani, where it involves, among other things, dell'edificazione the Church of St. Catherine.
Its representatives have been holding as many lands in the baronies islands of Favignana, Levanzo and Maritime and the fief of St. Hippolytus.

Carretto family arrived in Sicily in 1269 through the marriage of Anthony and Constance Of course that leads into the baronies of dowry and Calatabiano Ragalmuto.
Are mentioned, among others:
Jerome, first earl of Ragalmuto;
Alteram 2 Count of Gagliano;
2 John, Count of Ragalmuto.

The Castelli family, originating from Franconia, provides well 9 branches spread all over Italy.
This family takes on the following three steps involving the city of Catania, Messina and Palermo.
Among its major representatives are:
Gregory, owner of County Gagliano, of the Marquis of Capizzi and Motta, the barony of Durilli and lordships of Mistretta and Risitano;
Lancelot, the first ruler of Castelferrato, rational master of real property and magistrate of Palermo;
Bartholomew, Bishop of Mazzara and member of the kingdom;
Joachim, Bishop of Cefalù.

The noble Spanish family Castillo arrived in Sicily by Baldassarre, military living in the second half of 1500, who settled in Palermo.
It is divided into two branches, one that regards the Marquis of St. Isidoro and that of the Marquis of St. Onofrio.
Among the major exponents of this family are mentioned:
Baldassarre II, captain of infantry;
Joseph Palermo Senator.

Celeste's family is distributed on several Sicilian cities as Noto, Modica, Catania and Palermo.
It boasts many famous exponents major holders of securities, such as the Marquis, and government securities, including:
Peter, leader of the branch of Noto, straticoto of Messina in 1458 and owner of the castle below Noto;
John Catania exponent in the art and captain;
Peter S. Knight Giacomo della Spada and magistrate in Palermo in 1611;
Giambattista, Marquis and governor of the mountain of mercy to Palermo in 1643.

Cordova's family of origin is Spanish and has distinguished personalities such as cardinals, bishops, knights of the Golden Fleece, d'Alcantara, gerosolmitani and ambassadors, governors and viceroys.
It moved to Sicily, specifically in Palermo, by Francis in early 1500.
His descendants were the knights of St. James of the Sword, senators, teachers notari, governors of the Monte di Pietà.

The family or Cottù Cotta Transplant in Sicily around the sixteenth century.
Among his most important are:
John, owner of the state and barony of Madore at Sciacca and first Marquis of Roccaforte;
Gianfrancesco, patron of the fine arts;
John, son of former Knight and gerosolmitano;
Lawrence, Marquis of Roccaforte, Baron of Godrano and Madore and member of parliament as a representative of the Italian city of Palermo.