The family has a
coat of arms, indicating noble origins, and several distinguished noble members through the centuries. They are listed as one of the several noble families of the former Republic of Genoa, and during the
Albergo period of the governance of Genoa, they formed part of the Albergo De Franchi, one of the 28 Alberghi of the Republic of Genoa. An
Albergo (Alberghi in plural) was an informal grouping, in which several families bonded around a dominant family. Families of an Albergo shared the same political views and economic interests. They usually lived near each other and attended the same churches. The Cavanna (De Franchi) heraldic arms are portrayed in the ''Libro d'Oro della Nobiltà di Genova'', published in 1920. The Cavannas were also feudal
Lords of Castel Gazzo, which castle today survives in the town of
Novi Ligure, just north of Genoa, and
Patricians of Genoa. One of the earliest historical references to the family is found in a record of Ida and Ottobonus de Cavanna of Genoa, during the period 1202–1226. In the last part of the 14th century, one of the three skillful lawyers ("valenti giuristi") commended by the famous lawyer Bartolomeo Bosco was Antonio della Cavanna. He was confirmed as Lord of the castle of Gazzo by the Comune of Genoa on 18 October 1397. During 1423, he was Console of the Comune of Genoa in Caffa and during the 1430 was Vicario in Pera, the Genoa's neighbourhood in Costantinopoli. In the 15th century, Galeazzo Cavanna (died circa 1480) was
Signore di Castel Gazzo a
Patrician of Genoa, and aristocratic
Nobile di
Novi and of
Tortona, and he married Orietta Fregoso of Genoa (1453–1494), who had a brother Rinaldo (1454–1498), a
Knight of
Saint John of
Rhodes (
Knights Hospitaller, later known as Knights of Malta), and Prior of
Tortona. They were children of the
Doge of Genoa, Pietro II and his wife Bartolomea Grimaldi of the
House of Grimaldi rulers of
Genoa and Princes of
Monaco. A certain Gian Nicola di Gian Maria Cavanna is also recorded in Genoa in 1640. Domenico Cavanna da Gropallo is found in records dating to 1700 in Casimoreno [http://www.tuttogenealogia.it/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=31, a small fraction of the
Comune di Ferriere. In 1794, Alba Cavanna became the third wife and Countess of Marco Antonio Arcelli (died 1812), Count of Monteventano, Montebissago, Veratto, and Valle Luretta. His sister Nobile Caterina married Nobile Manfredo Cavanna
Pacchiarotti. Their aunt, Nobile Ippolita married Nobile Antonio Cavanna Pacchiarotti (died 1751). Another relative, Nobile Maria Teresa Cavanna Pacchiarotti (died 1748) married Conte Cesare Caracciolo, descendant of Antonio
Caracciolo (died 1504), Count of Macerato, Statto, Fiorano, Pozzolo, Fabiano, Raglio and Spettino, Governor of
Pavia, and a Patrician of
Naples who served for the Duke of
Milan. Don Giuseppe Cavanna was initiator and first director of
Il Resegone, the first edition of which appeared in
Lecco on 17 February 1882 as a response to national political turmoil and rampant laicization and
anti-clericalism. Don Cavanna ensured a catholic perspective on social problems, influenced by the encyclical of
Pope Leo XIII,
Rerum novarum on rights and duties of capital and labour, and the conditions of the working classes, enunciating workers' rights and the right to property; the
Roman Question; and in order to fight corruption in public life. Don Cavanna held that
religion must be the fundamental basis of all values, and that truth and justice should be upheld rigorously. His legacy endures as the periodical continues in its 127th year . ==Coat of arms==