Reprinted from: http://users.commspeed.net/grimalda/

HISTRIAN GRIMALDA   

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GRIMÁLDA, an Italic surname born in Histria (Latin for Istria) in the twelve-century.

The origin of the name is the Germanic Grimáld, a first name well known in European history. Grimoaldo or Grimaldo, the Latin forms of Grimáld, can be found in the history of Italy with the Germanic Lombards (or Longobards), that are now part of the Italian people.

An Histrian Grimaldo initiated the family name of Grimalda, just like the Genovese Otto Canella named the youngest of his son Grimaldo and the grandson Oberto's four sons, initiated the plural  form of Grimaldi, as a family name in the thirteen-century. These four sons are the progenitors of the four principal Grimaldi  branches. The oldest of the four, Grimaldo Grimaldi is the progenitor of the Grimaldi of Monaco, while the other three are known as the Genovese Grimaldi.

There is no known connection between the Histrian Grimaldos and the Genovese Grimaldos except that they were given this name by their parents, possibly to honor the known Germanic princes with this first name. Surnames, came into use mainly in the second millennium.

The Grimalda name is also found with connection to the Grimaldi of Genoa and from them derived: Rocca Grimalda in Piemonte (North East region of Italy), a ship and a hill in Corsica, but no family names. Grimalda is also being used in the Spanish speaking world, but as a female first name just as Grimaldo was used as a male first name, and possibly still used today.

Andrea Grimalda Birth CertificateThe following is a  tentative interpretation of the photocopy to the left of an old style stenographic writing used at that time:

Ufficio Parrochiale
Grisignana
Nro: 23/89

FOTOCOPIA

27 Giugno 

Andrea(:) Figlio(:) Legittimo(:) é naturale di Pietro (oppure Piero)  e Zuana Fugalli Grimalda, nato oggi fú battezzato da me Pievano(:)  essendo Padrini li Signori(:) Gio (Giovanni?) [???(:)] Dubaz, e Maria Spinoti. Levatrice(:) Margarita Damiani.

Dall’ ufficio Parrochiale di Grisignana

Grisignana 23. 10.1980

Gallo Irenko
Parroco

Please note!

La Capra IstrianaThis page is not a genealogy presentation but simply  an  attempt to present the origin of the Histrian Grimalda Surname, and to present the enviroment in which the Grimaldas lived.

The genealogy of the Grimalda branch of Visinada is fully known  and it is limited to the year 1787 with the birth of Andrea Grimalda in Grisignana, who married Elisabetta Gasparini in Visinada  and initiated this family branch.

SURNAME:  GRIMALDA

HISTRIA©English translation by Piero Grimalda, edited by Franco G. Aitala

Source: La nuova Voce Giuliana n.17 - 16 October 2000

Istrian last names: Grimálda

Already in the November 1191 (CDI)(1), one finds in Rosario of Montona an Albinum de Grimelda (= Grimalda); and while his brother, Wecelo de Grimaldo  is recorded on 5/ 10/ 1194 (CDI) as judge of Due Castelli, and we find him again on 4/11/1203 (CDI) in Parenzo as Vitellus de Grimaldo judex de Montona that is, Vitello (= Vicello or Vecello) of Grimaldo judge of Montona.

These two brothers are precisely the founders of the ancient Istrian surname Grimalda, derived from the place with the same name and from the castle in which they lived. They were its lords as it had been built by their father or grandfather named  Grimaldo  who was the “gastaldo” or Lord of  the castle.

As already seen, in the first documentation of the November 1191 the aforesaid villa appears in feminine form ( Albino de Grimelda = Albino of the villa Grimalda), then on October 5, 1194 to the masculine ( Vecello of the villa Grimaldo ). Also we can see in the 1208 (CDI) document a list of all the localities of Istria where the patriarch of Aquileia was represented by his own gastaldo (lord of the castle). Among these{localities} was Grimaldo (The Patriarch owned in these localities some vineyards given in emphytheusis (2) to farmers).

From the second half of the 1300 the aforementioned villa was henceforth definitely called Grimalda. This can be seen for instance in the document of Muggia dated December 22, 1397 (CDI) in which the patriarch of Aquileia, Anthony Gaetano, ordered to the noble Prampergher (= of Pramperga) to return the villas of Grimalda and Gremolziz (=little Grimalda) in Istria to Mixa Wixestayner or Wachsenstein, vicecaptain of Trieste, who was half owner.

We are informed by Mr. Luigi Parentin in his second volume Meetings with Istria, her history and her people, Trieste 1991, p. 146, that villa Grimalda (m 447 of altitude), comprising of eleven villages and bordered from three sides by the County of Pisino, was transferred in the 1420 to Venice and from 1440 was included in the [marchesato] of Pietrapelosa. This was a grant as a reward to the Gravisi of Pirano.

The Istrian last name "Grimalda" is of Germanic origin, it derives from Grimaldo as witnessed by other Istrian locations from the XII century (in Capodistria already in 1135; in 1173 one Grimaldo was priest of Umago).

This name was already attested in Italy in 666 with the Lombard

(Longobard) {3} King Grimoaldus, from grima "helmet" and walda "powerful," that is, "with the powerful helmet."

In the 1500 the Grimaldas moved from villa Grimalda (placed on the road between Chersicla and Draguccio) and from Montona to Grisignana from where they then also branched out to Visinada and Pirano. A component of the family- Zuanne Grimalda - in 1775 held real estate in nearby Portole, in the location still called Grimalda today.

A Zuanna Grimalda in the 1747 was a midwife in Cittanova.

In the 1945 there were in Istria fourteen Grimalda families: four in Grisignana, six in Visinada, one in Campo Pellegrino (Visinada), one in Stignano (Pola), one in Maresego (Capodistria) and one in Santa Lucia of Pirano.

All these families exited to Trieste after 1945 as part of the Istrian exodus.

Today there are eight families Grimalda in Trieste and one in Borgo St. Mauro of Duino Aurisina, while outside Trieste there is one Grimalda family in Cottonwood (Arizona) in USA.

Author: Marino Bonifacio, Trieste Italy

(English translation by Piero Grimalda© 2001, Cottonwood Arizona, edited by Franco Aitala, USA)

NOTES:

 (1) CDI: Codice Diplomatico Istriano (Istrian Diplomatic Code in 5 volumes) by Pietro Kandler. ( http://www.scriniumadriae.it/)

(2) Subject: [em-phy-theu°sis]

Ethimology: from late Latin (LL) emphytheu°sis, from the Greek emphyteusis, which derives from “emphytéuein” to plant, to graft” (This expression grants the time for planting and to enjoy the crops thereof) Definition: n. (Giur.) Real estate right for which the concessionaire (grantee) enjoys someone else’s land, in perpetuity or for at least twenty years, with the obligation to improve it and to pay a canon (tribute) to the grantor. {3] Clarification: Longobardi, was the latin name (plural of Longobardus) = Lombardi in English. Today Lombardi means the inhabitants of the Lombard region (Lombardy) in Italian. Langobards and Lombards are both used in English, although Lombards now seems to predominate. 

Cognomi istriani: Grimálda

Già nel novembre 1191 (CDI) troviamo a Rosario di Montona un Albinum de Grimelda (= Grimalda), mentre il di lui fratello Wecelo de Grimaldo il 5/10/1194 (CDI) era giudice di Due Castelli, e lo ritroviamo ancora il 4/11/1203 (CDI) a Parenzo quale Vitellus de Grimaldo judex de Montona cioe Vitello (= Vicello o Vecello) di Grimaldo giudice di Montona. 

I detti due fratelli sono appunto i capostipiti dell' antico casato istriano dei Grimalda, derivato dall'omonima localita e castello in cui vivevano e di cui erano signori, edificato dal loro padre o nonno di nome Grimaldo che era il gastaldo o castellano del luogo. 

Come visto, nella prima documentazione del novembre 1191 la suddetta villa appare in forma femminile (Albino de Grimelda = Albino della villa Grimalda), poi il 5/10/1194 al maschile (Vecello della villa Grimaldo), e pure nel 1208 (CDI), nella qual carta sono tutte le localita dell' Istria in cui il patriarca d'Aquileia era rappresentato da un proprio gastaldo (e in cui possedeva dei vigneti dati in enfiteusi a coloni), tra cui in Grimaldo. Dalla seconda meta del `300 la citata villa venne pero definitivamente chiamata Grimalda, per cui si veda ad esempio il documento di Muggia del 22/12/1397 (CDI) in cui il patriarca d' Aquileia Antonio Gaetano ordinava al nobile Prampergher (= di Pramperga) di restituire le ville di Grimalda e Gremolziz in Istria a Mixa Wixestayner o Wachsenstein vicecapitano di Trieste che ne era proprietario per la meta. Come ci informa inoltre don Luigi Parentin nel suo secondo volume Incontri con 1 'Istria, la sua storia e la sua gente, Trieste 1991, p. 146, villa Grimalda (m. 447 d'altitudine), stretta da tre parti dalla Contea di Pisino, passó poi nel 1420 sotto Venezia e dal 1440 fu compresa nel marchesato di Pietrapelosa, concesso per merito ai Gravisi di Pirano, comprendente undici villaggi.

La base del cognome istriano Grimalda e dunque il nome di origine germanica Grimaldo - testimoniato in piu parti dell'Istria fin dal secolo XII {a Capodistria gia nel 1135; nel 1173 un Grimaldo era parroco di Umago), gia attestato in Italia nel 666 col re longobardo Grimoaldus, da grima "elmo" e walda "potente" cioe significante "dall'elmo potente". Nel corso del `500 i Grimalda si trasferirono da villa Grimalda (posta a meta strada tra Chersicla e Draguccio) e da Montona a Grisignana, da dove poi si ramificarono anche a Visinada e Pirano. Un componente della famiglia - Zuanne Grimalda - ebbe nel 1775 delle possessioni vicino a Portole, nel luogo detto ancor oggi Grimalda, mentre una Zuanna Grimalda nel 1747 era levatrice a Cittanova. 

Nel 1945 vi erano in Istria quattordici famiglie Grimalda, di cui quattro a Grisignana, sei a Visinada, una a Campo Pellegrino (Visinada), una a Stignano (Pola), una a Maresego (Capodistria) e una a Santa Lucia di Pirano, poi tutte esodate a Trieste ove oggi ci sono infatti otto famiglie Grimalda piu una a Borgo San Mauro di Duino Aurisina, mentre fuori Trieste c' é una famiglia Grimalda a Cottonwood (Arizona) in USA.

Marino Bonifacio, (Trieste, Italia)

Abbreviazioni: CDI: Codice Diplomatico lstriano (in 5 volumi) di Pietro Kandler. 

http://www.scriniumadriae.it/ 

Presentato dal quindicinale "LA NUOVA VOCE GIULIANA" n.17 - 16 Octoaber 2000

Historical Venetian document

(Courtesy of Gianclaudio de Angelini, Italy)

This is a tentative English translation of the above writings 

Grimalda Village of the territory of Capodistria is set between mountains  in  the Marquisate of Pietrapelosa bordering with the Archducal Peasantry  of Pisino and within that area the red line denotes where the Archduchy committed various usurpations.

Segue una tentativa transcrizione del testo italiano .

Grimalda Villaggio del territorio di Capo d`Istria posto fra monti nel Marchesato di Pietrapelosa confinante col Contado di Pisino Arciducale, e da quella parte il suo confine é la linea rossa entro la quale per li Arciducali sono fatte diverse usurpazioni.

  1. A.  Courtyard of Ivan Slaterich, who works many annexed fields; he chooses  to obey Pisino, and pays it one tenth of the crops.
  2. Courtyard of Ivan Sancich, with many attached fields, who chooses  to obey Pisino, and pays it one tenth of the products; there are witnesses that it was   built with the permission of the Marchesato of Pietrapelosa, and the canals are property of the commune.
  3. Fields removed from property of the commune, and occupied by  Archduchy.
  4. Fields removed from property of the commune, and occupied by  Archduchy. 
  5. Fields converted to crop growth, for the last two years for the Archduchy, and now for our people of Grimalda as directed, as they are communal properties.
  6. Fields occupied by Archduchy people, canals are communal properties.
  7. Woods, from which the Archduchy people cuts oaks and other trees, which  were  removed and transported to Grimalda the year [?1601?].
  8. Cultivated fields for the Archduchy, and not tilled for our people, and communal in our cultivation, and they are communal  property. 

18 October 1603
  1. Cortino di Ivan Slaterich, il quale lavora molte terre, obedisce al capitano di Pisino, e li paga la Decima di frutti.
  2. Cortino di Ivan Sancich, con molti campi annessi, il quale obedisce a Pisino, e li paga la Decima di frutti, fatto che siano testimoni  che fu  fabbricato con la licenza del Marchesato di Pietrapelosa, e sono cavati dai beni communali.
  3. Campi cavati dai beni communali, e posseduti per gente arciducale.
  4. Campi cavati dai beni communali, e goduti per li arciducali.
  5. Campi ridotti a coltura gia due anni per li Arciducali, et ora per li nostri ..; di Grimalda mediante li ordini dati, e sono di beni communali.
  6. Campi posseduti per li Arciducali cavati dai beni communali.
  7. Bosco, col quale li Arciducali tagliano roveri e altri legnami, li quali gli furono levati, e condotti in Grimalda  l’anno  (?1601?).
  8. Campi coltivati per li Arciducali, e disarati  per li  nostri,  e communali nella nostra coltura, e sono de beni communali.

18 ottobre 1603

Additional information on the village of Grimalda:

Patriarca d'Aquileja Antonio ordina a Prampergher la restituzione delle ville di Grimald e Gremolziz in Istria da lui occupate a Mixe Wixestayner che ne aveva possesso di metà.

Dall'originale minutario delle lettere Patriarcali degli anni 1397 e 1398  esistente nella Biblioteca Comunale di Udine, Italia."

Gremolziz(le case di sotto)= piccola Grimalda .

English translation of the above by Piero Grimalda:

Patriarch of Aquileja Antonio orders Prampergher the restitution of the villages Grimald and Gremolziz in Istria by him occupied to Mixe Wixestayner that had possession of one half.l letters of the years 1397 and  1398 existing in the City Library of Udine, Italy."

From the original draft of the Patriarcha

Gremolziz = little Grimalda
(the group of houses down hill from Grimalda)

Geography

Review:

The author and copyrights holder of this page is Piero Grimalda. Any suggestions, possible additions, or just  good will advice and corrections are welcome. Please write to Piero Grimalda: 

grimalda@commspeed.net

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