Cenci Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Cenci last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Cenci last name
Meaning of the Cenci last name: rags. Cenci is an Italian surname from Cencio, a short form of Vincenzo or Innocenzo, or from cencio, "rag". The Cenci were a Roman family, and Beatrice Cenci, executed in 1599 for the killing of her father, inspired Shelley's play The Cenci. The last name is found in Lazio and Umbria.
Arms associated with the Cenci name
Italian coats of arms are often drawn on an oval shield, and the heraldry associated with the Cenci surname follows that style.
Get your full Cenci family history
This is only a glimpse of the Cenci story. The full Cenci history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Cenci coat of arms. Get the full Cenci report.
Cenci name FAQ
What does the Cenci name mean?
Rags. Common variants include Cencio, Cencetti.
Where does the Cenci surname come from?
It originates in Italy, and is also found in the United States, Argentina and Switzerland.
Is there a Cenci coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Cenci coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: De Felice, Dizionario dei cognomi italiani; Caffarelli & Marcato, I cognomi d'Italia.