Caruso

Caruso

Alias: nan

Blazon:  azure, a deer or, three stars of six points or, disposed 2 and 1. 

Origins: unknown

Seat: Palermo

Notable people: 

• Fortugno: Notary and Secretary to King Martin (the Humane). In 1393, he was granted the fiefs of Canneto, Taruso, and the lands of Revocata. He also held the fief of Comitini, which he later exchanged for the fief of Giarretta.
• Andrea: From Catania; served as the Master Notary of the Royal Grand Court (Regia Gran Corte).
• Antonio: Knight, Royal Treasurer, and Master Rational (Maestro Razionale—a high-ranking financial auditor) of the Kingdom. In 1453, he acquired the fief of Spaccaforno, which later passed to the Statella family via Isabella Caruso.
• Vincenzo: Served as a Giurato (City Magistrate) of Mazara in 1543–44.
• Muzio: Served as Captain of Mazara in 1575.
• Nunzio: Held the same office of Captain of Mazara in 1640–41.
• Alfonso: Acquired the fief of Galasi.
• Raimondo: Served as a Pretorian Judge of Palermo in 1615–16.
• Placido: A Senator of Palermo in 1650–51.
• Antonio: From Lentini; granted the title of Baron of Sanzà in 1649–1650.
• Carlo: Served as a Judge of Appeals for the Royal Audience of Messina (Regia Udienza) in 1685.
• Antonio Giuseppe Caruso ed Alimena: Invested as the Prince of Santa Domenica in 1689. This title, along with the title of Baron of Xireni, was brought into the House of Lanza through his daughter, Marianna Caruso.

Titles: 

• Prince of Santa Domenica
• Baron of Sanzà

Bibliography: Mango 1912, s.v. 'Caruso'

The Caruso family, a noble lineage, saw Fortugno Caruso, a notary and secretary to King Martino, acquire the feuds of Canneto, Taruso, and Revocata through a privilege granted on March 6, 1393. He also held the Comitini feud, which he exchanged for Giarretta. Andrea Caruso, from Catania, served as master notary of the Royal Gran Corte. Antonio Caruso, a knight, royal treasurer, and master rational of the kingdom, purchased the feud of Spaccaforno in 1453, which later passed to the Statella family through Isabella Caruso. Vincenzo Caruso was a jurat of Mazzara in 1543-44, Muzio Caruso was captain of the same city in 1575, and Nunzio Caruso held the same position in 1640-41. Alfonso Caruso acquired the Galasi feud, and Raimondo Caruso was a pretorian judge in Palermo in 1615-16. Placido Caruso served as a senator of Palermo in 1650-51. Antonio Caruso, from Lentini, obtained the title of Baron of Sanzà through a privilege dated December 12, 1649, executed on June 9, 1650. Carlo Caruso was a judge of appeals for the Royal Audience of Messina in 1685. Antonio Giuseppe Caruso y Alimena became Prince of Santa Domenica through an investiture on November 30, 1689. This title, along with that of Baron of Scireni/Xireni, was transferred to the Lanza family through Marianna Caruso (daughter of Antonio Giuseppe). The Caruso family also possessed the feuds of Callura and Lamia, Crucifia, lu Granaru, Falconara, Nicchiara, Piscazzi soprani, sottani, S. Martino, S. Lorenzo, and Pulci, among others.