Batistich Family History & Genealogy

Summary

Batistich (Batistic) – The Batistich family surname originates from the Mid-Adriatic island of Korcula, which is part of today’s Croatia. Similar surnames are found in other areas in the Mediterranean region in various forms including Batista, Batisti, Batistini and others, primarily in nearby Italy and in most of other Latin countries. However, in Croatia, Korcula is the only location where this surname is found historically. Today, the nearby villages of Lumbarda and Zrnovo also have a number of families with this surname. The similarity of the names in Italy is believed to have arisen from the Korcula’s close ties with Venice, as it was for centuries was part of the Venetian Republic, where Italian was the official language. The name Batistich is found first recorded in written documents from the city of Korcula, dating to the beginning of the fifteenth century, where they are mentioned  as noblemen of the city. Historically, the early fifteenth century is when most families adopted their permanent family names. The Batistich surname, and the similar names from other places in the region and the Latin world, likely originated from John the Baptist. For example, the offspring of someone who was named John the Baptist (in Croatian, Ivan Krstitelj; in Italian, Giovani Batista) would in the following generations adopt local variations on the surname, for example Batistich in Korcula.

History

Since the earliest recording of the Batistich name in Korcula in the early fifteenth century, it first spread to other villages on the island and then around the world. The earliest families to use the Batistich name originally lived in the walled-in city of Korcula. In the beginning of 16th century, these families left Korcula for the nearby villages of Lumbarda and Zrnovo, where they had owned lands. During that period, health conditions had made living in the walled-in island city of Korcula very difficult. Later, starting in the late 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, many young men had to leave the island due to harsh economic conditions, caused mainly by damage to the vineyards, by the spread of diseases including philospera, and due to other difficult living conditions. Many of these emigrants settled in America, mainly in California, and then others in Australia, New Zealand and other places. Later, after the end of the Second World War and due other political conditions like years of economic hardship under communist regimes, many young men left the island and spread the Batistich surname all over the world. Batistich (Batistic) – The Batistich family surname originates from the Mid-Adriatic island of Korcula, which is part of today’s Croatia. Similar surnames are found in other areas in the Mediterranean region in various forms including Batista, Batisti, Batistini and others, primarily in nearby Italy and in most of other Latin countries. However, in Croatia, Korcula is the only location where this surname is found historically. Today, the nearby villages of Lumbarda and Zrnovo also have a number of families with this surname. The similarity of the names in Italy is believed to have arisen from the Korcula’s close ties with Venice, as it was for centuries was part of the Venetian Republic, where Italian was the official language. The name Batistich is found first recorded in written documents from the city of Korcula, dating to the beginning of the fifteenth century, where they are mentioned  as noblemen of the city. Historically, the early fifteenth century is when most families adopted their permanent family names. The Batistich surname, and the similar names from other places in the region and the Latin world, likely originated from John the Baptist. For example, the offspring of someone who was named John the Baptist (in Croatian, Ivan Krstitelj; in Italian, Giovani Batista) would in the following generations adopt local variations on the surname, for example Batistich in Korcula.

Name Origin

It is believed that the Batistich surname likely originated from John the Baptist. For example, the offspring of someone who was named John the Baptist (in Croatian, Ivan Krstitelj; in Italian, Giovani Batista) would in the following generations adopt local variations on the surname, for example Batistich in Korcula. The similarities between the name Batistich and the Italian version highlight the relationship between Venice and Korcula at the time that the name is first found.

Spellings & Pronunciations

We don't have any alternate spellings or pronunciation information on the Batistich name. Have information to share?

Nationality & Ethnicity

The question is why, when and from where the ancestors of Batistich family came to Korcula. This is very hard to discover, because legal documents from the period before the 15th century are very few, as well as the fact that family surnames did not exist before that time. Instead, each generation would have its own surname, mainly shown by reference to the town or the region they came from, like the case of Leonardo Da Vinci or George the Dalmatian. One theory about the origins of the ancestors seems to have the highest probability. Since they grew their settlement on the island into the walled-in city, it is likely that they would have came from another urban location on the mainland of what is today Croatia. It is possible they left Salona or another Roman costal city when these cities were attacked and destroyed by the invading central European conquerors and Barbarians, which, as history tells us, happened in the Seventh century.

Famous People named Batistich

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Early Batistiches

These are the earliest records we have of the Batistich family.