Cavanna family

Cavanna is a family name from the north of Italy, with several variants, such as Cavana, Cavani, and Cavanni.

Origins

It seems that the name first appeared historically in Genoa, and later in Piacenza. Nearby, a place called Cavanna di Lesignaro is to be found in the vicinity of Parma. In the center of the triangle Genoa-Piacenza-Parma lies Centenaro, where a high concentration of Cavannas exists historically, and just south of there a small village called Cabanna.

Aristocratic patrician lineage and titled nobility

The family has a coat of arms, indicating noble origins, and several distinguished noble members through the centuries. The Cavannas were feudal Lords of Castel Gazzo, which castle today survives in the town of Novi Ligure, just north of Genoa.

One of the earliest historical references to the family is found in a record of Ida and Ottobonus de Cavanna of Genoa, during the period 1202-1226. In the 15th century, Galeazzo Cavanna (died circa 1480) was Signore di Castel Gazzo, a Patrician of Genoa, and aristocratic Nobile di Novi and of Tortona, and he married Orietta Fregoso of Genoa (1453-1494), who had a brother Rinaldo (1454-1498), a Knight of Saint John of Rhodes (Knights Hospitaller, later known as Knights of Malta), and Prior of Tortona. They were children of the Doge of Genoa, Pietro II and his wife Bartolomea Grimaldi of the House of Grimaldi rulers of Genoa and Princes of Monaco. A certain Gian Nicola di Gian Maria Cavanna is also recorded in Genoa in 1640.

In 1794, Alba Cavanna became the third wife and Countess of Marco Antonio Arcelli (died 1812), Count of Monteventano, Montebissago, Veratto, and Valle Luretta. His sister Nobile Caterina married Nobile Manfredo Cavanna Pacchiarotti. Their aunt, Nobile Ippolita married Nobile Antonio Cavanna Pacchiarotti (died 1751). Another relative, Nobile Maria Teresa Cavanna Pacchiarotti (died 1748) married Conte Cesare Caracciolo, descendant of Antonio Caracciolo (died 1504), Count of Macerato, Statto, Fiorano, Pozzolo, Fabiano, Raglio and Spettino, Governor of Pavia, and a Patrician of Naples who served for the Duke of Milan.

Early migration and diaspora

A heavy concentration of Cavannas is found in the small town of Centenaro, near Ferriere, and which lies half-way between Genoa, Piacenza, and Parma. From there, Carlo Cavanna (1873-1925), left to Ethiopia, settling in Eritrea in 1888, at a very young age. He was one of the earliest pioneers, in search of prosperity, initially as an agriculturalist with an experimental farm at Godofelassi. During the early part of the 20th century, during Italy's colonial occupation of Eritrea, he directed the construction of the first railway line in Eritrea, and later established a citrus farm at Ghinda, an important station on the railway. His brother Andrea (1876-1950) remained in Centenaro and is one of several buried in the large Cavanna Mausoleum in Centenaro. Carlo had three children. One took over the Ghinda estate, sold it, and returned to Italy, while the other two and their families left Eritrea during Ethiopian imperial rule, and migrated to Sudan after World War II, and later returned to Europe.

Descendants for this branch of family members are found today in Centenaro, Livorno, Pisa, Rome, and other parts of Italy, and in England, Germany, and Switzerland.

Many other Cavannas emigrated from Italy to Britain, France, and to New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania in the USA. François Cavanna is a well-known French writer.

Current Members of the Cavanna Family

Edward Cavanna (Hall of Fame 3rd Baseman)
Lucas Cavanna (All American Wrestler)

References

*Civil register records for Centenaro in the Commune di Ferriere, Piacenza, Italy
*Italian military archives for Eritrea, 1930-1945 [Cavanna entries]
*Roman Catholic diocesan records for Asmara (Eritrea), and Khartoum (Sudan) [Cavanna entries]

Link

*Cavanna and Eritrea in late 1800s (http://www.ilcornodafrica.it/s-ler02.htm)