Charis History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Italy

Etymology of Charis

The name Charis is derived from the Italian word "chiari," which means "clear," or " luminous." As such, the Charis surname was likely originally a nickname for a person with a clear or light complexion. Nickname surnames were derived from an eke-name, or added name, and usually reflected the physical characteristics or attributes of the first person that used the name.

Early Origins of the Charis family

Early History of the Charis family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Charis research. The years 1391, 1400, 1615, 1660, 1669, 1712, 1720, 1745, 1766 and 1800 are included under the topic Early Charis History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Charis Spelling Variations

Italian surnames come in far more variations than the names of most other nationalities. Regional traditions and dialects are a decisive factor in this characteristic. For example, northern names tend to end in "o", while southern in "i". Also important, but not unique to Italy, was the fact that before dictionaries and the printing press most scribes simply spelled words according to their sounds. The predictable result was an enormous number of spelling variations. The recorded spellings of Charis include Chiarucci, Chiari, Chiaro, Chiara, Clari, Claro, De Chiara, Del Chiaro, Di Chiara, Clarich, Chiarenti, Chiaretti, Chiarelli, Chiarello, Chiariello, Chiarel, Chiarella, Claretti, Chiarini, Chiarìn, Clarini, Chiarotti, Chiart, Clarotti, Chiaroni, Chiaranda, Chiarandini, Chiarante, Chiarantini, Chiarato, Chiaratto, Chiarenza, Chiarito, Chiarizia, Clarizia, Chiarolla, Chiarulli, Chiarullo, Chiarugi, Chiarutti, Chiaruttini, Chiaraluce, Chiarantoni and many more.

Early Notables of the Charis family

Prominent among members of the family was Manfredi III Chiaramonte (died 1391), a Sicilian nobleman, Lord of Trapani, Agrigento, Bivona, Licata, Castronovo, Lentini, Palma di Montechiaro and Mussomeli; Giorgio Chiarini, a well known author in Florence around 1400; Bartolomeo Chiarini of Rome, a famous engraver in the 16th century; Fabrizio Chiari, a painter and engraver in Rome around 1615; Anton-Maria...
Another 59 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Charis Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Charis family

A search of the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Charis: Cappaccio Chiara, aged 36, who arrived at Ellis Island from Mirabella, in 1900; Carlo Chiara, aged 30, who arrived at Ellis Island from Trofarello, Italy, in 1920.