Luna

Recorded in the spellings of De Luna, Luna, and Luno, this is an Italian and Spanish surname, but of Roman (Latin) origins. It derives from the ancient word 'lumina' meaning 'light', and describes either a person who came from a place called 'Luna' or one who lived in a house with an open courtyard. Since most courtyards were enclosed, and deliberately constructed to restrict the incoming sunlight, it is not clear what is meant by an 'open courtyard'. However a more likely explanation for most nameholders is that they originate from one of the villages called 'Luna' in both Italy and Spain, and particularly 'Luna' in the Spanish province of Saragossa. This village is believed to have received its name because it was in an exposed place, but this is not proven. Either way the name is well recorded both in the Olde World and in the Americas. Examples of the early recordings taken from authentic church and civil registers include those of Martin de Luna, who married Maria de Mendiola, at Santa Maria, Navarra, Spain, on June 7th 1632, Geronimo de Luno, christened on April 21st at San Martin, Viscaya, Spain, and Maria Josepha Luna, christened at Godnales, Cadiz, Spain, on September 23rd 1776. The first recording in California may be that of Francisco Bernard Luna, who married Esperanza Castro at San Bernardino, on May 12th 1888. The coat of arms has the blazon of a gold field, charged with a blue saltire, indicating one who suffered for his faith. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Leonardo de Luna, which was dated February 16th 1596, a witness at Trapani, Italy, during the reign of Emperor Rudolf 11 of the Holy Roman Empire, 1592 - 1612. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.