Antoncich as spell in Glagolitic

Origins of the Antoncich name

The name “Antoncich” derive from the Istria-Dalmatian region that includes the island and coastline of the northern Adriatic Sea. But it seem that the island Lussin (Croatian Losinj) and its general neighborhood was the birth place for the name. The spelling of the surname is not the diacritical letters used in Croatia (Antončić),but the name takes the Latin/Italian form.

“ić” part of the name was only used by the first born son (inherited of the father’s property), but later become the family surname for all children . -ich is common among istro-dalmatian italians. They got their surnames changed under the Austrian Empire rule. “ić” part of the name was only used by the first born son (inherited of the father’s property), but later become the family surname for all children .

Antoncich, means Antun’s son. In Croatia, where patronyms are used, a person would have - ich names. The correct pronunciation of Antončić ‘Antonchich’ is pronounced as č ch in chalk and ć ch in church.

Note: First surnames were introduced in the feudal system. Patrician families’ surnames were needed to ensure the succession rights inherit reputation, position and property and preserve for posterity acquired privileges. Feudal authorities also start using surnames for their serfs in order to more easily note their hereditary households’ obligations.

An important decision to establish a surname system was brought on the Council of Trent (1545.-63.) in Rome, which is binding on all clergymen to keep parish registers, thus recording exact names and surnames, dates of birth, date of marriage etc.

The Catholic Church needed these records for the prevention of inter-family marriages, tax collecting etc.

Through administrative measures by secular and ecclesiastical authorities surnames have developed from a variety of additional names and nicknames into permanent, fixed ancestral names passed on by the male members of the family (through marriage women take their husbands last name).

We can freely say Croatian surnames occur relatively early and are amongst the oldest in Europe.

It should be mentioned that some of the surname systems in the surrounding countries of Croatia are significantly different.

Thus, for example, the Orthodox Church did not use the same surname system until the beginning of 20th cent. There was a so-called patronymic system, in which the individual is qualified and determined by his father’s personal name (eg Peter son Marko is Marko Petrovic), such a "name" is not hereditary, and changes from generation to generation, depending on the father's name (this does not apply to the Orthodox in the area of the Habsburg Monarchy, where the surname system was regulated)..

Slavic families would live and work together in “zadrugas” , forming large extended families often run by brothers. These families recognized a common ancestor and carried a common name.

Note: This was known by a lineage of the brotherhood name. The lineage came from one founder, usually a male, but when a widow settled and formed a separate family with her sons, it could be a female founder. Such lineages had group names ending in -ic, -ovic, or -icic. Other family lineages also took on a patronymic based on the father's name and ending in -ov, -ev, -ef, or -in. Some lineage names also developed from these patronymics. Such lineage names were used in addition to surname direct s, so that families would have both a surname and lineage name.

Zadruga originally, generally formed of one family or a clan of related families, the zadruga held its property, herds and money in common, with usually the oldest (patriarch) member ruling and making decisions for the family, though at times he would delegate this right at an old age to one of his sons.

Because the zadruga was based on a patrilocal system, when a girl married, she left her parents' zadruga and joined that of her husband. Within the zadruga, all of the family members worked to ensure that the needs of every other member were met.

Antoncich family live in Lussino for over five hundred years.

LussinGrande is a settlement on the island of Losinj in Italian Lussin in the north Adriatic Sea. The history of LussinGrande dates back to the 13th century, when historical saga said that 12 Croatian families arrived here from the northern seashores. In the 1200s these families built their houses around the St. Nicholas Church, First settlements was built in line with agricultural land which is the oldest sacral building here. This meant the beginning of Veli Losinj (Large Village).

Antoncich Pedigree