History of the Pisani surname
PISANI is a toponymic surname (derived from names of towns, places, countries, rivers, etc.) and originated from the city of Pisa in Tuscany, Italy. The earliest record of the name PISANI dates to 905, when the PISANI family of Pisa, who were Counts, moved to Venezia.
Fleeing Lombards from the north created the settlement of Venezia as a refuge from Attila the Hun. In the year 687 they organized the settlement under a doge. During the 9th century, Venezia was granted self government by a decree of Pope Gregory. The city state became economically and strategically important to Italy as a buffer between the East and the West. This position was strengthened by the travels of the Polo family in the 13th century, which established trade contracts with the Mongol empire.
It is during this time of economic and religious prosperity, that the PISANI surname emerges in Venezia where the PISANI family possessed the grand riches and states since the year 905. In those ancient times only persons of rank, the podesta, clergy, city officials, army officers, artists, and 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.
Spelling variations of the surname include Pisano, Pisani, Pisanu, Pisa, Pisanelli, Pisaniello, Pisaneschi, Pesani, Pizani, and Pissani. Various other forms of the name were created over the centuries as the language and dialects of a region develop, sometimes changing the names between father and son.
The surname was found in Venezia where they were a patrician, highly noble family holding extensive lands and estates. They were later found in Milano and Pavia where they were nominated to the state in the year 1229 and again in Messina where they held the title of Barons of Messina from the 14th through the 18th centuries. From their early beginnings, for the next few centuries, the family name also acquired other interests as branches of the family established themselves throughout Italy. Branches of the family formed in Monteleone (Calabria), Pistoja, Legnago, Genova, and Catanzaro. Many were displaced as they pursued religion, politics or acquired better states. Many members of the family were active in the church, and produced many Cardinals, Luigi in the year 1523, Francesco in the year 1527, and 13 procurators in San Marco. Francesco, emperor of Austria conferred the title of Counts Bagnolo in the year 1819. This family also held the titles of Counts de Barbana, and Barons Pisani de la Gaude, of Sicily, Provence and P. de Vaud.
After the defeat of Napoleon in 1814, the Austrians took over and governed Venezia until Italy’s efforts to unify in the year 1859. During this time Venezia lost much of its territory and trading power. The city joined the official unification of Italy in the year 1861. Following the unification of Italy, migration reached very high levels. Many settlers were recorded in the great migration from Italy to the Americas.
Bibliografy:
Dictionary of Surnames - Patrick Hanks & Flavia Hodges, Oxford 1988.
