Marina History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Italy
• Spain

Etymology of Marina

The distinguished surname Marina 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. 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. During the Middle Ages, Italians adopted the patronymic system of name-making because it perfectly complemented the prevailing Feudal System. In Italy the popularity of patronymic type of surname is also due to the fact that during the Christian era, people often named their children after saints and biblical figures. The surname Marina came from the name Marino, which is further derived from the Latin Marinus, which means of the sea. During the Middle Ages, parents frequently named their children after saints in the hopes of obtaining the grace and protection of the invoked saint for the child. The name Marino became popular because of devotion to several saints, including Saint Marino the Bishop of Rimini and Saint Marino who, according to tradition, founded the first Christian community on Mount Titano and from whom the Republic of San Marino takes its name. Alternatively, the surname Marini is of local origin, derived from the place named Marino, which is situated near Rome.

Early Origins of the Marina family

Early History of the Marina family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Marina research. Another 151 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1251, 1414, 1528, 1569, 1571, 1605, 1608, 1625, 1627, 1653 and 1715 are included under the topic Early Marina History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Marina 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 Marina include DeMarini, DeMarinis, LaMarina, Marinacci, Marinaccio, Marinato, Marinazzo, Marinella, Marin, Marinetti, Marini, Mariniello, Marino, Marinolli, Marinoni, Marinotti, Marinotto, Marinucci, Marinuzzi and many more.

Early Notables of the Marina family

Prominent among members of the family was

• Onorio Marinari (1627-1715), an Italian painter and printmaker of the Baroque period