Croatian Heraldry

Adam S. Eterovich

MARINOVIC-MARINOVICH

A very popular Croatian name, Marinovich, or Marinovic, is found in every part of the country with heavy concentration in Dalmatia. The name originates from the roots "Marine-Marin-Marinich-Marincich" with the root meaning "from the sea.”

Coat of arms were granted in the early 1800's and the individual from whom the namesake evolved was a captain of the marine. Captain Marinovich was murdered in Venice in 1845.

Examining the Marinovich coat of Arms, one may note the various nautical items included on the crest, such as the ship and anchor.

Notable namesakes of the Marinovich family were: Andria, who died in 1833 at New Orleans; Antonio, who was naturalized as an American citizen in 1845 in Mobile, Alabama; Mateo, Mitchell, Nikola and John, who were mining gold in the Amador region of California in the 1870-1880’s; Antonio and Nicola, who were pioneers in the Santa Clara, California orchards in the 1880’s; Frank, who was fishing in San Francisco Bay in 1860, and Mitchell, who told the census taker in 1860 at San Francisco he was a Turk!

From new Orleans to San Francisco, the Marinovichs were making their homes and raising their families as true American pioneers from “sea to shining sea.”

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.