Surname Capua - Meaning and Origin

Capua: What does the surname Capua mean?

The last name Capua is derived from the Italian city of Capua, located in the region of Campania. The city's most prominent ancient landmark is the Roman amphitheatre, which was originally built in the 2nd century BC and still stands today. The city's name likely derives from the Etruscan word "capeva," meaning "garden." The Capuans are also related to the ancient Osci tribe who once lived and established settlements in Campania.

Capua is also historically famous as the site of the famous Battle of Capua in 211 BC. This was the first of three Punic Wars between Rome and Carthage, and was won by the Roman general Hannibal. As a result, Capua became part of the Roman Empire. It was also the site of the famous gladiator revolt in 73 BC, where a group of Roman gladiators refused to fight in the amphitheatre and marched on Rome to demand better treatment.

Thus, the last name Capua signifies a connection to the ancient city of Capua and its long and significant history. It represents a proud heritage of strength and culture blended together, from the proud Osci tribe and the time of the Punic Wars, up to the modern day city which so proudly bears its name.

Capua: Where does the name Capua come from?

The last name Capua is most commonly found in the south of Italy, in the Campania region. This region is home to the second largest city in Italy, Naples. According to the Italian public records, about 11.647 people have the last name Capua. This puts it among the top five hundred most common surnames in Italy.

Aside from Italy, the last name Capua can also be found in the United States, mostly among those with Italian ancestry and their descendents. One such example is the current mayor of El Cajon, California, Bill Capua. In the US, the last name Capua can also be found in multiple states, such as New York, California, New Jersey, and Florida.

The etymology of the name Capua is not certain, but it might be derived from the Latin ‘Caput Agnum’ or ‘Head of a Lamb’. It could also originate from an Ancient Roman noble family in Campania who owned the city of Capua and belonged to the gens Valeria.

The name Capua likely originated as a surname for people from Capua and those belonging to its noble family hundreds of years ago, and throughout the centuries has become a widely used surname among Italians and those of Italian ancestry.

Variations of the surname Capua

The surname Capua is derived from the Italian city of Capua, and has many variants and alternate spellings. Among these are Capuano, Capuani, and Cap tradolado. All three spellings denote individuals with roots in the Italian city of Capua.

Other surnames of the same origin include Caput, Capucci, Capusello, Capuzzo, Capuzzelli, and Capuzzo. These spellings are more prevalent among individuals of Italian heritage, as the Capua surname spread from Italy with Italian immigrants to other parts of the world.

In some cases, the surname may also be spelled as Capo, although this variant is of Spanish origin. Spanish immigrants who settled in areas of Italy may also have adopted this variant of the Capua family name.

Some variants of the Capua surname may have also emerged due to misunderstanding or mispronunciation when it was first adopted by immigrants arriving in a new country. For example, a Capua family with a particularly strong Italian accent may have become known as 'Cappo', 'Capi' or other such alternatives.

In conclusion, the surname Capua is of Italian origin, and has many variants, including Capuano, Capuani, Cap tradolado, Caput, Capucci, Capusello, Capuzzo, Capuzzelli, and Capuzzo. Other spellings such as Capo may also exist, although they are typically of Spanish derivation. Variants may also exist due to misunderstanding or mispronunciation.

Famous people with the name Capua

• Oriana Capua: an Italian veterinarian, professor of Diagnostic Virology and infection control at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Naples Federico II, and a member of the Italian Parliament.
• Mike Capua: a retired professional soccer player from the United States who last played as a forward for the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in Major League Soccer.
• Liliana Capua: the Director of The National Reference Centre for Vetenziarie at the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentali in Abruzzo e Molise, as well as member of the World Organisation for Animal Health's Expert Group on Rabies and Avian Influenza.
• Guido Capua: a renowned Italian singer, songwriter, and actor.
• Samson Capua: a former professional boxer from Ghana.
• Alfredo Capua: a chess master from Italy who won the Italian Chess Championship in 1975.
• Beatrice Capua: a former World Champion cyclist from Italy.
• Marcello Capua: a former professional footballer who played for Catanzaro, Napoli, and Brescia in Italy.
• Tony Capua: a former youth boxing champion from Brooklyn.
• Carlo Capua: an Italian comic book artist.

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