Surnames Candia, Candiago, Candeago, Candiani, Candiano
The Italian surname Candia could derive from a toponym (place name) that has now disappeared. Indeed, Candia was the ancient name of the Greek island of Crete and also the ancient name of the Cretan city of Heraklion. Crete was under Venetian rule at the time of the formation of the surname which could have been applied to a fugitive from that island.
The name comes from the Arabic ‘qandi’ = sugar, transferred to Crete because the Arabs had established a sugar refinery there, before the occupation of the Venetians. But it could also derive from ‘Canidius’, a name that may have taken its name from the Candeo de Faedis lords of Udine, given to those who were their servants or lived near their properties.
Variants
Candiago, Candeago, Candiani, Candiano, La Candia (typical of the Varese area could be a matronymic of Candia)
