SAVONA FAMILY TREE

The surname SAVONA has been interpreted to be Jewish surname referring to the place by that name. This was probably adopted by a Jewish converso family living in the city possibly during the fifteenth century [1]. The city of SAVONA in the Liguria Region on the northern coast of Italy is a small (pop. 1951 68698) industrial city with iron, ship building, glass and tin plate works. It also exports preserved fruits and tomatoes. It is not lacking in works of art: among them a Polyptych by Foppa in the Church of S. Maria del Castello; the Renaissance Cathedral with the magnificent Baptistery dating from before the 11th century; the Palazzo pozzobonello which contains a small but interesting collection of pictures with about 90 works by Donato de’ Bardi, Mazoni and Foppa; and the Palazzo delle Rovere designed by Sangallo. Facing onto the harbour is the Tower of Leon Pancaldo named after the Savona navigator who sailed with Magellan; and the Priamar Fortress behind the Public Gardens on a height.


The surname has been said to have had alternative forms including SAGONA, SAONA, and SAHON. The form SAGONA remains one of the Maltese surnames as SEGUNA, which surname has a definite coat-of-arm crest different from that of SAVONA. The Commendatore Giovanni Francesco Abela in 1647 described the SAGONA family. Di questa famiglia, che fu` delle primarie, non meno in Malta, che nel Gozo, ritrouiamo essere stato Giurato della nostra Citta` Bernardo nel 1471. Nardo pure Giurato nel 1476. Nicolo` similmente Giurato negli' anni 1513, 1514, 1517, 1520, 1521, 1522, 1526 & 1531. Cittadino di molta bonta`, e rettidudine, come si puo` far conseguenza dall'essere stato eletto per tanti anni, ad amministrare quel carico, massimamente ch'allora, co'l suffragio di certo numero di Cittadini, si faceva lo scrutinio degl'officiali. Nardo Sagona sopraintedente alle publiche fabriche della Citta nel Gozo, per priuilegio concedutogh dalli Regi Giovanna, e Carlo l'anno 1516 dato in Bruselles a` 30. Di Settembre v. Ind. E Giuliano Sagona Capitano del Gozo nel 1548 [2]. Canon Giovanni Pietro Francesco Agius de Soldanis in 1746 wrote that "The Sagona family is also called Saguna and Saona. It is very ancient in both Islands. In 1300 Don Ruggiero Sagona, a native of Gozo and Canon of the Cathedral of Malta founded the benefice called Tad-Dawwara in the region of Gerduf. From the offices the members of this family held in the seventeenth century one can see that the Grand Masters considered this family to be a noble family. In 1543, the nobleman Nicholas Sagona was secretary in Gozo. This is what he wrote about himself: 'Nicolo` Sagona Vice-Secretary in Gozo by a privilege granted to him by Queen Giovanna and King Charles in 1516, from Brussels, on 30 September 1516'" [3]. The SAHON surname is mentioned in the Militia List of 1419 with one person being listed from Rabat-Mdina [3a].

The SAVONA crest in use in Malta is figured above [4]. The earliest mention of the surname form SAVONA in the Maltese Islands dates to the sixteenth century when a Giulio SAVONA is known to have served as Juror of Gozo in 1542 [5]. On the 20th October 1669, Don Carlo SAVONA was nominated Canon designate of the proposed Vittoriosa Collegiate due to be set up on the basis of the income derived from the legacy of Dr. Gio. Maria Abela. He was installed in office on the 31st July 1681, but because of loss of the legacy the post lasted only until 1684 [6]. In the 17th century, a Tomaso SAVONA married Angeluzza N. and had a son named Leonardo SAVONA who in 1688 married anna Genuis in Valletta.

A Don Nicola SAVONA was imprisoned at Vittoriosa c.1775 over a satirical comedy written by a Dominican friar Nicola Capici. This comedy featured two of the Grand Master Pinto’s employees. Don Savona who had borrowed the manuscript from the author, had unknowingly lent it to one of the satirised individuals who complained to the Grand Master. Angered Don Savona confronted the individual and was thrown into prison for his pains [7]. Other known SAVONAs include: Antonio SAVONA and Bernardo SAVONA who presented Suppliche to the Grand Master [8]; and Gaspare SAVONA of Valletta who on the 14th July 1791 prepared his will and trestament on admission to the Sacra Infermeria [9].

In the late eighteenth century, the merchant Paolo SAVONA is known to have sympathised with the French during the period of French rule in Malta. An anonymous writing found near door of a shop in Cospicua on 11th August 1798 accused Paul Savona, an ex-merchant, as having betrayed his country; while a French dispatch dated 26th August 1799 records that “Un Batiment Maltais appartenent a` Paul Savona, par[ti] sur mes instance, pour Civita Vecchia, a ete pris a` la cote d’Avola en Sicile par un Brich Anglais. J’ai ecrit au Consul pour le reclamer et il a deja fait des demarches, jusqu’ a` present inutiles malgre leur ligitimite”. In 1808, a Paolo SAVONA was residing in Paris moving later to Toulouse. He eventually settled for some time in Perpignan and in 1816, there is evidence that he was in Marseilles. In 1808, Paolo Savona was officially appointed by the French Government to take charge of the cultivation of cotton in France, or at least in the Oriental Pyrenees. He attempted to procure cotton-seed from Spain and seems to have been close to Bonaparte and his ministers. He had at least one son [10].

The surname SAVONA appears in the Status Animarum 1679-1833 of Vittoriosa [11]. The 1872 Electoral Register identified four SAVONAs eligible to vote including Antonio, Vincenzo, Salvatore and Sigismondo, all living in Valletta except for the latter who initially lived in Floriana [12]. One Savona Family line [that of Salvatore SAVONA] was characterised by three generations of political personalities - Sigismondo SAVONA, William SAVONA, and Victor SAVONA. During a political meeting organised by Sigismondo SAVONA in 1893, the police arrested a Vincenzo SAVONA reported in their records to be Sigismondo SAVONA's brother. However, Sigismondo SAVONA had no brothers and Vincenzo SAVONA may have been a further relation, possibly a cousin. Francesco SAVONA had a son named Vincenzo SAVONA who would have been a contemporary to Sigismondo SAVONA [11a].

A SAVONA from Marsa was a renowned cobbler during the early twentieth century. A Giuseppe SAVONA, aged 16 years [b.1887], on the 29th October 1903 is reported to have attempted suicide using a shoemaker’s knife while in his father’s boot-shop in Strada Reale, Valletta. The attempt was foiled by emergency surgery at the hospital [13].

A Joseph Sigismond SAVONA from Valletta wrote "Bidu ta' taghlim fuq il-konkos. Kemtejn lill-Imghallem. Ghamil ta' Slabs tal-Ferro-Konkos." Malta, St. Joseph Press, 1944 +12p. [NML BU-3-27]. A Joseph SAVONA, most likely the same individual, was also reported in the Government Annual Reports [Education] of 1931 as having placed first "scum laude" with 85% of the marks in the course of BE&A. He was awarded a scholarship to continue his studies. He applied for a pastport on the 6th September 1933 [Appl.No. 12195] stating his occupation as "student".

The 1996 Telephone Directory lists a total of 36 Savona households [including PSAILA-SAVONA, IZZI-SAVONA and SAVONA-VENTURA]; while the 1998 directory similarly lists 36 SAVONA households in Malta and 1 in Gozo [14].
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References
[1] J. Aquilina: Papers in Maltese linguistics. University Press, Malta, 1981, p.187

[2] G.F. Abela: Della Descrittione di Malta Isola nel Mare Siciliano con le sue Antichita`, ed altri notitie. Paolo Bonacota, Malta, 1647, p.529 [facsimile copy Midsea Books Ltd, Malta, 1984]

[3] GPF Agius de Soldanis. Il Gozo Antico-moderno e Sacro-profano, Isola Mediterranea adiacente a Malta Africana. Manuscript National Archives, Gozo, 1746. [English translation: A. Mercieca: Gozo. Ancient and Modern Religious and Profane. Media Centre Publ., Malta, 1999, p.171]

[3a] G. Wettinger: List of Maltese Surnames from 1419 and 1480. http://www.fast.net.au/tancarville/libro%20d'Oro/listofmaltesesurnames1418.html

[4] C.A. Gauci: An illustrated collection of the Coats-of-Arms of Maltese Families. PEG, Malta, 1996, p.164

[5] G.P.F. Agius de Soldanis [english translation A. Bonnici, op. cit., p.134]

[6] AAF Beneficiatura ed altri Documenti della Chiesa Parrochiale di Vittoriosa dal 1648 al 1796. fol. 59v-60v. as reported in J.F. Porsella-Flores: The Diocesan Clergy. In: Birgu. A Maltese Maritime City (L. Bugeja, M. Buhagiar, S. Fiorini, eds). Malta University Services Ltd, 1993, p.598-600

[7] G. Bonello: Histories of Malta. Deceptions and Perceptions. Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti, Malta, 2000, p.149 reporting Lib. Ms. 1146/2 f.183

[8] AOM: Suppliche di Antonio Savona, usciere dell'ufficio del Consiolato del Mare. Relazione del Consolato del Mare (ff. 463/490). resc. 9.VII.1718. Arch. 1186, Tomo V, ff.462/491; AOM: Suppliche di Bernardo Savona. resc. 15.XII.1731. Arch. 1187, Tomo VI, ff.285/296

[9] AOM: Testamento fatto da Gaspare Savona di Valletta, 14.VII.1791. Arch.1746, ff.77-78.

[10] C. Testa: The French in Malta 1798-1800. Midsea publ., Malta, 1997, p.245; W. Hardman. A History of Malta during the period of the French and British Occupations 1798-1815. Longmans, London, 1909, p.99; G. Bonello: Maltese in Spain during the Napoleonic Age. Histories of Malta. Versions and Diversions. Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti, Malta, 2002, p.200-211 [copies relevant manuscript correspondence in holding - originals in holding of G. Bonello]

[11] L. Zahra: Mill-Istatus Animarum dwar l-Belt Vittoriosa. Pronostku Malti. Almanak ta' Malta u Ghawdex. G. Muscat & Co. Ltd., Malta, 1990, p.201-217. 

[11a] H. Frendo. Party Politics in a Fortress Colony. The Maltese Experience. Midsea Books, Malta, 1979, p.77; Sister Emma Savona S.J.A. surviving grandchild in lit. of E. Curmi 18 January 1999 confirms that Sigismondo SAVONA had no brothers. Michael SAVONA reports that his father William SAVONA [Francesco SAVONA line] used to refer to William SAVONA [Salvatore SAVONA line] as a cousin.

[12] 1872 Electoral Register. Malta Government Gazette 15/02/1872, 2507:p.29-44. Lists: Antonio Savona residing at 17 Brittania Street, Valletta; Vincenzo Savona at 85 Piazza S. Biagio, Valletta; Salvatore Savona at 62 Strada San Giovanni, Valletta; and Sigismondo Savona at 19 Strada Sant Anna, Floriana. The latter eventually moved to Palazzo Caraffa, No.94 Strada Forni, Valletta: vide In-Nahla 5th December 1908 No.15:p.103-105

[13] H. Ganado. Rajt Malta Tinbidel. Interprint, Malta, 1977, vol.1, p.245; Serious accident. Daily Malta Chronicle, 30th October 1903. Michael Savona owned and used a set of wooden cobbler's shoe moulds now donated to Heritage Malta. These originally belonged to his grandfather named Paolo Savona born Floriana 1855. Paolo and his brother Francesco in their youth were "apprenticed" by their parents to a cobbler where they learned the trade. The moulds and trade were passed on to Paolo's son William Savona [born Floriana 1889, died Hamrun 1964]. William Savona apparently ran a number of cobbler's establishments in Floriana, Sliema, and Marsa-Hamrun. He obviously added on to the collection. The moulds were passed down to his son Michael Savona [born Hamrun 1927].

[14] TeleMalta Corporation: Lista Alfabetika tat-Telefon/Telephone Directory. TeleMalta Co., Malta, 1996, p.457,661,623; MaltaCom: Lista Alfabetika tat-Telefon/Telephone Directory. MaltaCom, Malta, 1998, p.489,655,693,890: MaltaCom: Direttorju tat-telefon/telephone directory. MaltaCom, Malta, 200, p.400,528,558,737; further information from SLH PAS System: 18th April 2001

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Savona Family Tree in Malta