Messari Family
The Messari family (Greek language: Μεσσάρης) is a Greek noble family from Kefalonia with their origin in Zante.
History
The Messari family take their name from the Venetian office of Massari, who were those responsible for the distribution of coin at the Venetian Mint, indicating that their ancestors served in this office for the Republic of Venice.[1]
In 1607 the family was ennobled by Venice, and the family name was entered in the Libro d'Oro of Zante.[2] The coat of arms of the family is a red flag on a green background with the coronet of a Venetian patrician.[1]
Branches
Originally the family was from Zante however some members moved to the next island of Kefalonia in the 17th and 18th centuries. The family is now extinct on Zante and all living members today descend from the Kefalonia branch.[1] Originally the family was granted land near Dilinata where they founded a village called Messarata (Μεσσαράτα). This was inhabited up until the 1953 Ionian earthquake when it was abandoned.[3]
From Messarata, the family separated into several branches: the Lixouri branch; the Dilinata branch; the Argostoli branch and the Kourouklata branch. In the late 19th century one member of the Argostoli branch moved to South Africa where their descendants founded a crisp-manufacturing company.[4]
Prominent Members
- Panagis Messari (fl. 1821), a Greek Revolutionary who fought as a junior officer under Andreas Metaxas at the Battle of Lalas.[5]
- Angelos Messari (1910-1978), South-African born Greek football player.
- Charalambos Messari MP (1927-2006), New Democracy politician who represented Kefalonia constituency for 8 years
- Zoe Messari (1971-), Greek actress
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Oikosima tis Zakynthou apo ton kodika 17 tis Istorikis kai Ethnologikis Etaireias tis Ellados". Δελτιον της Ιστορικης και Εθνολογικης Εταιρειας της Ελλαδος. 30-32: 172.
- ↑ Rizo Rangabe, Eugene (1927). Livre d'or de la Noblesse Ionienne (Zante). p. 9. Search this book on
- ↑ https://www.archaiologia.gr/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/76-8.pdf [bare URL PDF]
- ↑ http://www.messaris.co.za/about/
- ↑ Konstantinos, Metaxas (1887). Souvenirs de la guerre de l'indépendance de la Grèce. p. 23. Search this book on
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