Follow
The roots of the Cognevich (possibly originally spelled Konjević) surname, while unknown, is believed to have originated in the Galicia region (today part of Poland and Ukraine). Later during the Turkish Rebellion, many fled to the Banat region (now part of Hungary, Serbia and Romania) where they apparently lived for a while, only to flee from the Turks again; this time making their way to those countries that once made up the former Yugoslavian republic.
The surname is quite old and is documented in Italian and Latin documents dating back to 1322, in which Domianus Radvani Cognevich, Johannes Cognevich and Petrus Cognevich are mentioned in Sibenik. Another document from Sibenik records the handling of part of the estate of Francesco Cognevich. This document states: January 7, 1454 The executors of the estate of Pria, widow of Francesco Cognevich, commission Giorgio to build a chapel dedicated to the Holy Cross in the Cathedral of Šibenik. It is finished by March 5, 1455. (Kolen d i ć in Starinar, 1923, pp. 84f.)
Another document regarding Francesco's estate is mentioned in 1462: "Pria, once left to Sir Francis Cognevich ... ordered that all his possessions which he has in the town of Cossevichia in the district of Sibenik should be sold to the public through his undersigned trustees, who should pay all the expenses of his funeral from the money extracted therefrom, and of the remainder of the price they should send someone or to Rome, or to St. James, or to Jerusalem, just for the conscience of those for the soul of the witness." (Haz, Martin Campbellis de Gaivanis, KV ll. IV. 1452, 16r.)
Konjević, literally translate to "little son of the horse". Konj means horse and the suffix "ević" means little son of. More likely the translation means the son of a horseman.
No one really knows how the spelling change came about but as shown in the Latin and Italian documents mentioned above, this is likely because of how the name was translated into Italian and Latin.
The Cognevich family has the distinction of being one of the first and largest families of Dalmatian descent in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. Although a few other Cognevich's are recorded on early census records during the nineteenth century, Stephani "Etienne" Cognevich appears to be the progenitor of most of the Cognevich descendants that now live in Louisiana as well as other parts of the United States.
It is believed that Stephani was born in the mountainous Konavle region near Herceg Novi, Montenegro. He likely immigrated to Louisiana in the 1840's. Once in Louisiana, he and his partner John Vidacovich purchased land in Nairn, Louisiana just below an area known as Sixty-Mile Point along the Mississippi delta. This purchase as it appears in the Plaquemines Parish Court House conveyance book No. 10, Page 143, entry No. 1716 dated March 1844, is the first record of Stephani found in Plaquemines Parish.
Anthony Cognevich is recorded as arriving in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1864. However, he is on the 1860 census with his wife Hannah and two children, Annette and George. It is likely that Anthony was also born in Montenegro, about 1833, but there are no indications as to the relationship, if any, to Stephani. Anthony was a Captain during the Civil War and led the 4th regiment, European and French Brigade Militia. Anthony married and had three sons (Stephen, Peter and George) and one daughter (Annette). Stephen died at the age of 3 years 2 months. Anthony appears on the 1900 census with his wife Hannah Druen Cognevich and two children, Annette and Peter. Stephen died at the age of 3 years 2 months. Annette died at the age of 49 and had no known children. Neither George nor Peter appear again on any known records.
Other Louisiana immigrants on census records with the Cognevich last name are Johanne Cornavich (1860 census), Ignocio Cagnovich (1870 census), Gius Cagnovich (1870 census) and P. Cognevich (1880 census). It is believed that they came to Louisiana as oyster fishermen, no further records indicate whether they stayed in America or possibly returned to their mother country. There is no evidence supporting Johanne, Ignocio, Gius or P's relationship to Stephani.
Outside of Louisiana, the Cognevich surname appears in census records as well in immigration records, but again no known relationship can be determined between any of these people and Stephani.
Written by: Joel Cognevich