Mangion

This rare and interesting surname is of Italian origin, and is an example of the sizeable group of early European surnames that were gradually created from the habitual use of nicknames. The nicknames were given in the first instance with reference to occupation, or a variety of features, such as physical attributes or peculiarities, mental and moral characteristics, including supposed resemblance to an animal's or bird's appearance or disposition, or to habits of dress. In this instance the surname derives from a derivative of the Italian "mangiare", to eat (from the Latin "manducare", to chew), and the augmentative suffix "one", and the nickname would have been given to a "big eater". In the modern idiom the surname can be found as Mangeon, Mangione and Mangion. On May 16th 1866, Marie Louise Clemence Mangion married Ernest Jean Baptiste Duez, at Bruly, Meurthe-et-Moselle, France and Leonarda, son of Luigi and Barrile Mangione, was christened at Serradifako, Caltanissetta, Italy, on April 7th 1876. The Coat of Arms most associated with the family is a gold shield with a red chevron between three black hinges, a blue chief depicts a gold left hand coming from a gold cloud between two gold stars. In Heraldry, gold denotes Generosity and Elevation of Mind; blue signifies Loyalty and Truth; red symbolises Military Fortitude and Magnanimity; and black denotes Constancy. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Francois Mangeon, which was dated September 11th 1703, marriage to Anne Henriquez, at Badonviller, Meurthe-et-Moselle, France, during the reign of King Louis X1V of France, 1643 - 1715. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.