Show ContentsSancto History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Sancto family

The surname Sancto was first found in at Ortona, a seaport of Abruzzi in the province of Chieti, in the Italian region of Abruzzo. Built on the ancient site of Ortona, a trading port of the Frentani. A funicular railway connects to the promontory on which there is ruined castle with magnificent views The cathedral built in 1127 has works by Nicolo Mancini. 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.

Early History of the Sancto family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sancto research. Another 144 words (10 lines of text) covering the year 1263 is included under the topic Early Sancto History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sancto Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Sancto, Sanctis, Sanctos and others.

Early Notables of the Sancto family

Prominent among members of the family was

  • the Sancto family of Lecce


Sancto migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Sancto Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Sancto, British settler travelling from Plymouth aboard the ship "Lord William Bentinck" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 11th December 1851 1
  • Mrs. Sancto, British settler travelling from Plymouth aboard the ship "Lord William Bentinck" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 11th December 1851 1
  • Miss Sancto, British settler travelling from Plymouth aboard the ship "Lord William Bentinck" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 11th December 1851 1


  1. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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