Here is the Mollica Coat of Arms and two versions of the derivation of the Mollica surname.
The first description came from the Historical Research Center. The second version is from Halbert's. Together, the two versions provide an interesting look at the history of our family name.
Anyone who has more historical information or comments about our family history, please contact Rick Mollica.
And many thanks to Mary Kay Nowak-Letters for contributing the Coat of Arms and the Halbert's Historiography.
In the archives we find records of several families with the surname Mollica. One branch of this family settled in Messina, Sicily, where its members were ennobled. Family members held the title of Baron of Bagnarella and Salina de Mollica.This family flourished in Messina from the fifteenth through the eighteenth centuries. Branches of the family later settled in Trapani and Alcamo, in the area near Palermo, Sicily. One Domenico, the founder of this branch was a Royal Militiaman. A Giovanni, also a Royal Militiaman, was a Counselor to King Alfonso in 1441.
Blazon of Arms: Azure, two arms argent, issuing from the flanks of the shield, dividing a loaf of bread or placed in the center.
Translation: The loaf of bread is an example of canting, which is the heraldic practice of placing a charge on the shield which acts as a pun on the name.
Crest: The loaf of bread of the arms
Origin: Italy
The Mollica Coat of Arms [shown above] was drawn by an heraldic artist from information officially recorded in ancient heraldic archives. Documentation for the Mollica Coat of Arms design can be found in Crollalanza's Dizioneriod Sterico-Blasonico, p.150. Heraldic artists of old developed their own unique language to describe an individual Coat of Arms. In their language, the arms (shield) is as follows:
"D'azzurro, a due braccia d'argento, poventi dai fianchi dello scudo, dividenti del cuore un pane d'oro."
When translated, the Arms description is:
"Blue, two silver arms moving from the sides of the shield dividing in the center a gold loaf of bread."
Family mottos are believed to have originated as battle cries in medieval times. A Motto was not recorded with the Mollica Coat of Arms.
Individual surnames originated for the purpose of more specific identification. The four primary sources for second names were: occupation, location, father's name, and personal characteristics. Based on our extensive research and our years of study...we believe the surname Mollica is characteristic in origin. Our scholars agree that the name is associated with the Italians and meant, "one who was satisfied with a small portion."
Information available to us indicates that in 1972 there were approximately 450 heads of households in the United States with the old and distinguished Mollica name. The United States Census Bureau in 1970 estimated that there were approximately 3.1 persons per household in America which means that nearly 1395 people in the United States bear the Mollica name. In comparison, some of the most common family names are shared by over two million people.
[Contributed by Mary Kay Nowak-Letters (whose mother was a Mollica), orignally of the Mollica clan in Mckees Rocks, Pennsylvania, USA]