Italian given names

[SouthernItalianNana]

One of our members has been doing a lot of research and has passed along some info that could be linked to my tree. However, two given names are very strange and I have never seen them before - can someone translate them or translate whatever may be similar? They are: Ciriaco - a male name and Gaudenzio - also a male name.

Thank you in advance for your help.

[misbris]

Both names sound like they come from Latin. One may be a form of Ciro or Cyril. The other a form of Gaudium, means joy

[suanj]

Ciriaco is a first name given in honor of Saint Ciriaco.. the story saying that he was named Giuda and he was a jew that helped Saint Elena mother of Costantino Emperor ... after he become christian... and had also Ciriaco first name so he become: "Judas /Giuda + Cyriacus (or Quiriacus)= dedicated to Lord" ...
abt Gaudenzio first name( in honor of Saint Gaudenzio) it means:" who enjoy" and as misbris saying coming from "gaudium" latin word, meaning "joy"
... regards, suanj

[SouthernItalianNana]

Thank you both very much - I appreciate the help.

[Aether]

SouthernItalianNana,

The surname CIRIACO is found in the Cosentino (Province of Cosenza) is originally from the "Coronei" of families "Albano-Greci" that settled in Italy from 1534.

The surname has been Italianized from the original.

Those families left Croya escaping the Moslem invasions, and founded various communities in the south of Italy.

Source:Patitari, Raffaele Patituci D'Alifera. "Casati Albanesi in Calabria e Sicilia" In "Rivista Storica Calabrese...1989-1990"

Aether

[Aether]

SouthernItalianNana,

Additional information.

Surnames: CIRIACO occurs in 12 of 380 towns in Calabria.
GAUDENZIO occurs in 3 of 380 towns in Calabria.

I did not check further for other provinces in Calabria, etc. Also, did not check further to compare if CIRIACO and GAUDENZIO appear in the same town.

This would possibly add some interesting information re: your genealogical tree.

My source was FAST REGION, PROVINCE AND TOWN SELECTION ---
ReS http://italiaindettaglio.it.... as cited by missbris.

Aether