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ArchivesRe: giacomo patriciano
in reply to a message by PINELOPI PATRIKIANOU
Your mention of Catholic archives suggests that there was an Italian community on Santorini in the I8th century. I know that the Island was once under Venetian control, but that was much earlier. I don't know, perhaps there was a Venetian community that survived after the Island passed from Venetian rule. If so, perhaps your ancestor was a merchant trading between Italy and the Greek islands of the Aegean, or even with the Ottoman Empire.
Niceta looks like it might have originated in the Greek name Aniketas, though in a form familiar to Italians.
Niceta looks like it might have originated in the Greek name Aniketas, though in a form familiar to Italians.
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Something I've just found out - Niceta is an Italian surname, though the spelling Nicita is more common. Both forms are mainly Sicilan, Niceta in the west of the island, Nicita in the East. The name does come from the Greek, and the Greek influence in Sicily and the Italian south (Magna Graecia) is strong.
Here's a thought, though not one I have much faith in. Patriziano could be title indicative of status, 'patrician'. So Antonius would be surnamed Niceta, and of patrician status. In time the title replaces the surname.
The strongest argument against this idea is that I would expect 'patrician' to be written in a church register in Latin, i.e., 'patricius'.
Here's a thought, though not one I have much faith in. Patriziano could be title indicative of status, 'patrician'. So Antonius would be surnamed Niceta, and of patrician status. In time the title replaces the surname.
The strongest argument against this idea is that I would expect 'patrician' to be written in a church register in Latin, i.e., 'patricius'.
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