Croatian Heraldry

By Adam S. Eterovich

LUCICH-----LUCIC

Lucich is found in many areas of Croatia, Bosnia and Hercegovina. The name originated among old Bosnian nobility that later settled in Dalmatia. Related names were Ivelich, Ricich, Berislavi and latinized as Lucio. Lucich Arms originated in the 1300’s.

Mario Lucich served as a private in Captain Cognevich's Company, Louisiana Militia Volunteers, Confederate Army of 1861. Many Lucich’s settled in the South after 1800. Anthony Lucich died on Oct. 6, l842 in Mobile, Alabama and Luca Lucich died on Sept. 7, 1841 in New Orleans at the age of 28. Many died of yellow fever during this period. They belonged to the Old Slavonic Croatian Society of New Orleans in the 1870's, the first Croatian society organized in the South in 1873.

The Lucich clan also were pioneers of old San Francisco. Vincenzo and Peter were fishing at San Francisco in the 1870's and belonged to the old Slavonic Croatian Illyric Society of 1857. Andrew Lucich had a coffee house on Stewart Street in 1872 where Antonio was a waiter. George and Theodore were gold mining in the El Dorado, Calaveras and Amador in the 1870's. Both were American citizens. Lucich and Medin Saloon at C and Union Streets, Virginia City, Nevada was the center of activity during the silver boom of the 1860-70's. Medin went on to become a millionaire. The original front of the Pioneer Saloon still stands on C Street in Virginia City.

Courtesy of the Croatian Genealogical and Heraldic Society, 2527 San Carlos Ave., San Carlos, California, 94070. Phone: 650-592-1190; E-Mail croatians@aol.com; Web www.croatians.com. Adam S. Eterovich.