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ArchivesRe: DiBiagio? Interested in the Meaning.
in reply to a message by Sagani
The English (and French) equivalent of the Italian forename Biagio is Blaise. The original form is the Latin Blasius, meaning "stutterer". The first Blasius must have had a speech defect. His descendants became known by this "cognomen" which eventually became a male given name.
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In fact the name "Blasius" still existed in the Ist century, when Saint Blaise came to Rome from Palestine. According to local tradition he was martyrized in VEROLI near FROSINONE about 50 kk from Rome.
Of course there no relationship between the original meaning of Blasius and the surname Di Biagio which is much more recent.
In fact several italian surnames come from "Biagio", Emidio De Felice lists about 30 of them:
Biagio, Biagini, Biagiotti
Biasi, Biase, Biasini, Biasin (venetian)
Biasutti, Biasut, Di Biagio
Blasi, Blasini and so on
That means that the cult of Saint Blaise was spread around Italy in the past. In fact Saint Blaise was one of the 14 Saint Helpers.
Of course there no relationship between the original meaning of Blasius and the surname Di Biagio which is much more recent.
In fact several italian surnames come from "Biagio", Emidio De Felice lists about 30 of them:
Biagio, Biagini, Biagiotti
Biasi, Biase, Biasini, Biasin (venetian)
Biasutti, Biasut, Di Biagio
Blasi, Blasini and so on
That means that the cult of Saint Blaise was spread around Italy in the past. In fact Saint Blaise was one of the 14 Saint Helpers.
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I just checked this book : "Our Italian Surnames," by Joseph G. Fucilla, published 1949, reprinted 1987. Page 154 covers surnames from Amphibians.
"The toad is represented by Rospi . . . Botta . . . Baggio and Baggetta (both Genoese) . . . It is customarily a symbol of irascibility and uncouthness, but in . . . Genoese [it may imply] a lean person . . ."
Since I am not an expert on Italian names, I have no opinion as to whether those names are akin the the one in your query.
Reg Niles
"The toad is represented by Rospi . . . Botta . . . Baggio and Baggetta (both Genoese) . . . It is customarily a symbol of irascibility and uncouthness, but in . . . Genoese [it may imply] a lean person . . ."
Since I am not an expert on Italian names, I have no opinion as to whether those names are akin the the one in your query.
Reg Niles
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I'm sure Baggio and Biagio are different names. I had an idea that Baggio meant either someone who lisps or someone who stutters, I forget which. But toad? Now I'm confused.
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