Surname Circi - Meaning and Origin
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Circi: What does the surname Circi mean?
The surname Circi is a patronym, meaning it is derived from a forefather’s given name. It is an Italian or Spanish name, and is a derivative of Cicci or Cici, which is a nickname of Francesco, which can derive from the Latin name Franciscus meaning “French”. The Spanish version of this name is Francisco, and can also derive from the Old French form Franscesc.
Circi is a surname common in the south of Italy and Sicily, where the surname is often found in small towns and villages. It could also have Spanish roots, as it is an unaltered form of Cicci, a Spanish variant of Francisco. The exact spelling of the name in different languages is often used interchangeably.
The meaning of the surname Circi is not clear, but it is thought to come from the Latin word “Circe”, which was the name of a mythical witch who turned her victims into animals. This name is associated with the concept of magical powers, and has been linked with other Italian surnames such as Lanzillotta (enchanter) and Tanno (aliens).
The current distribution of the surname Circi shows that it is mainly found in the Campania region of Italy, which is in the south, and almost non-existent anywhere else in the world. Ultimately, the true origin of this surname is unknown, but its meaning in the Latin language gives an intriguing insight into its evocative past.
Order DNA origin analysisCirci: Where does the name Circi come from?
The last name Circi is most commonly found among Italian families today, particularly in the regions of Sicily and Puglia. It is thought to have originated from the ancient Greek settlement of Siraces, which was located near Agrigento in Sicily. The name may be linked to the Greek word for ‘hawk’ and thus could be interpreted as ‘son of the hawk’.
The surname is one of the most common Italian surnames on the island of Sicily, where it is estimated to account for as many as 1,000 families. It is also found throughout the rest of Italy, particularly in the south, and can now be found in countries such as the USA, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, where it is spreading among those of Italian ancestry.
Circi families in Sicily are often found in small, rural, agricultural communities. Even today, the Circi name is found in areas with a history of farming, such as the village of Agnone Cilento in the province of Palermo.
In addition to Circi, other variations of the name may include Circci, Circo, Cicco, Cacciapuoti, Caccavo, and Cicchi.
Variations of the surname Circi
The original form of the surname Circi is Cirillo which is derived from the Italian word 'cirillo'. This surname is believed to have originated from the early Latin name 'ciricius' which was derived from the Latin word cirrus meaning 'ring' or 'crown'. The surname is also believed to originate from the use of a geographical location such as the city of Circe, an Ancient Greek female Goddess of magic and also a place located in present-day Albania where the sanctuary of Circe or Junk was built.
The variants, spellings, and surnames of this origin include Kyrillou, Kyrillos, Kirillos, Kyrilla, Kirina, Kyris, Kyros, Cyrillos, Cirillo, Circeo, Cerci, Cercio, Cirino, Circii, Circiu, Circi, and Cercei.
These different spellings and variants are Pronounced differently depending on the language and region. The variant Kyrillou is the most common spelling of the surname in Greek, Kyrillos is the traditional form in modern Greek and Kyrilla and Kirina are the more colloquial forms. Kirillos is also a commonly used by those who trace their heritage from the ancient city of Kyiv. In Italian, the traditional form is Cirillo, while Circeo is the regional variant used in the region around Rome. Other versions such as Cirina, and Circii are more colloquial versions.
In Albanian, the traditional spelling is Cercio, while the colloquial spelling is Circiu. The more formal spelling of Cercei is used in some parts of the country. The Italian spelling Cirino is also used in some parts of the country.
The origination of this surname has been traced back to the ancient Greek city of Kyiv, and the Italian city of Circe. There is also evidence that the surname was first used in the region of Aragon, Spain.
Famous people with the name Circi
- Nicolò Cirri: Professional Italian soccer player
- Vieri Circi: Italian Olympic swimmer
- Vittorio Circi: Italian fencing champion.
- Edoardo Circi: Italian professional tennis player.
- Rodolfo Circi: Italian world champion race car driver.
- Ambra Circi: Italian bodybuilder and IFBB pro.
- Mattia Circi: Italian Paralympic cycling champion.
- Luca Circi: Italian professional boxer.
- Alessio Circi: Professional dancer and choreographer.
- Elisabetta Circi: Singer and songwriter from Italy.
- Andrea Circi: Italian pro golfer and TV personality.
- Alessandro Circi: Italian professional windsurfing champion.
- Carlo Maria Circi: Italian artist, sculptor and painter.
- Margherita Circi: Italian fashion designer.
- Giuseppe Circi: Italian conductor, composer and musicologist.
- Paolo Circi: Italian film producer and writer.
- Elena Circi: Italian journalist and TV producer.
- Roberto Circi: Italian sculptor and ceramicist.
- Federico Circi: Italian movie reviewer and actor.
- Matteo Circi: Italian art director and graphic designer.