According to some sources, they would derive from the aristocratic Centranico-Barbolano family, and they moved from
Salerno or
Cesena before living in
Torcello and finally in
Venice. The first to assume this surname was perhaps the Doge
Pietro Barbolano (11th century). A branch of the family, engaged in trade, later settled in
Heraklion. The Salamons were admitted to the patriciate of Venice since the "
Serrata del Maggior Consiglio" (
Great Council Lockout) in 1297. Since the 15th century they appear as one of the 24 "Case Vecchie" of the city (
i.e. the most ancient houses of the patriciate), whose members were called "Longhi", in place of the
Ziani family extinct in the 14th century. The Salamon family founded the church and the female monastery of
Santa Marta in Venice: the oldest of the family, as head of the house, had the privilege of installing the new elected
abbess, and every year, on the day of the titular saint, she gave a rose to the family. One of the most important members of the family was
fr. Jacopo Salamon (1231–1314), a
Dominican friar, who was beatified by the
Catholic Church. Numerous members of the family – particularly in the 16th century – held the position of "podestà" (
i.e. mayor), on behalf of the
Serenissima, in some cities under Venetian rule, including
Treviso,
Vicenza,
Bergamo,
Crema,
Pola,
Parenzo and
Capodistria. The variants "Salomon" and "Salomoni", that sometimes appear in documents, are probably normalizations or adaptations of the original form "Salamon". The
coat of arms of the Salamon family – lozengy/fusilly silver and red – is still visible on the facade of the Salamon Palace (15th century) in
Cannaregio,
Venice. == Palaces ==