Lanza (or Lancia) are an important family of the sicilian nobility descended from the Dukes of Bavaria. Over the centuries they have accumulated a lot of feuds.
History
The origin of the surname Lanza is much debated: according to many historians, the surname come from the bavarian dukes. The thesis is supported by Robert Guiscard's document of 16 December 1080 in which he writes:
(La) Ideo ad humilem supplicationem nobilis consanguinei nostri, fidelis dilecti Conradi Lanza, militis, ad praesens unius ex capinaeis nostrae militiae et descendentis ex ducibus Bavariae, nobis perrectam et suis maiorumque suorum consideratis servitiis et benemeritis
(En) So humble supplication made by our blood relative, the faithful and belove soldier Corrado Lanza, currently ore of capitains of our warfare and a discendant form the Dukes of Bavaria, and considered the services and the merits of his and of his ancestors
According to the Biographical dictionary of italians it derives from the first exponent known with this name, Manfred I Lancia: it owes its name to the fact that he was the captain of the great spear (lancifero or capitano della grande lanciain italian) of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, but his service to the emperor is not confirmed by sources. According to some genealogists Manfred was the son of Guglielmo del Vasto, first Marques of Busca.
Other historians argue that Lanzas arte Dukes of Bavaria and Ernesto Wittelsbach originated the noble family Lanza or Lancia, in 970 him was nicknamed captain of the great spear (capitano della grande lancia translated in italian), from which the name. And from Ernesto Lanza derived Corrado Lanza, his son.