Number 16 Italian Surname Mancini Number 16 on the list of most popular Italian Surnames — Mancini.  Perhaps the best Known Mancini is Henry Mancini the US composer.  I have found conflicting data on the meaning some say left-handed some say ambidextrous as you see below in House of Names.  The Nobility of Naples lists the name as one of the most noble families in Rome going back to 990 AD.  They list branches in Sicily and Naples.  Several branches are listed in the Libro d’Oro  You can read more in the links below.   It’s very possible that you have noble roots if your last name is Mancini. From the historical and enchanting Italian region of Tuscanyemerged a multitude of noble families, including the distinguished Mancini family. During the Middle Ages, as populations grew and travel between regions became more frequent, the people of Tuscanyfound it necessary to adopt a second name to identify themselves and their families. The process of adopting fixed hereditary surnameswas not complete until the modern era, but the use of hereditary family names in Italy began in the 10th and 11th centuries. Italian hereditary surnames were developed according to fairly general principles and they were characterized by a profusion of derivatives coined from given names. Although the most common type of family name found in Tuscanyis the patronymicsurname, which is derived from the father’s given name, the nicknametype of surname is also frequently found. Nicknamesurnames were derived from an eke-name, or added name. They usually reflected the physical characteristics or attributes of the first person that used the name. The surname Mancini is a name for a person who was equally adept and skilled in the use of both hands. The name Mancini is derived from the Italian word mancino, which means one who is ambidextrous. Early Origins of the Mancini family The surname Mancini was first found in Florence (Italian: Firenze), where the main branch of the family originates. Leonardo Mancini, was a bishop in Orvieto in 1295. Also noteworthy is Daccino Mancini, who was the ambassador to the Sicilian King in 1406 and then to the Pope in 1408. Around the same period, Giuseppe Mancini was the Archbishop of Siena, and about 400 years later, another Archbishop, this time of Cosenza, was Domenico Mancinelli. The Mancinelli family is known for being one of the oldest families in the city of Narni in the region of Umbria. From House of Names According to the Nobility of Naples the Mancini name originated in Rome. Join Italian Roots and Genealogy on Facebook  Geographical distribution As of 2014, 66.2% of all known bearers of the surname Mancini were residents of Italy(frequency 1:805), 13.2% of the United States(1:23,932), 6.1% of Brazil(1:29,095), 5.1% of Argentina(1:7,358), 2.5% in Canada(1:12,751) and 1.9% of France(1:29,904). In Italy, the frequency of the surname was higher than national average (1:805) in the following regions: 1. Molise(1:163) 2. Marche(1:191) 3. Lazio(1:225) 4. Abruzzo(1:269) 5. Umbria(1:269) 6. Tuscany(1:385) In Argentina, the frequency of the surname was higher than national average (1:7,358) in the following provinces:[1] 1. Santa Fe Province(1:3,737) 2. Buenos Aires(1:3,933) 3. Río Negro Province(1:5,097) 4. Buenos Aires Province(1:6,191) 5. San Juan Province(1:6,430) 6. Córdoba Province(1:7,258) People Antonio Mancini, Italian painter Dominic Mancini, 15th-century traveler and author Don Mancini, author of Child’s Play Giulio Mancini, 17th-century physician, art collector and writer Hannah Mancini, American singer who works and lives in Slovenia Marie Anne Mancini, patroness of La Fontaine Al Mancini, American actor, acting teacher and television writer Robert Mancini, MTV News Francesco Mancini (composer), 18th-century composer Giovanni Battista Mancini, Italian voice teacher Henry Mancini(1924–1994), Grammy-winning American composer and arranger Mancini family, Italian noble house Alessandro Mancini, Captain Regent of San Marino Ange Mancini, prefect of Martinique Giacomo Mancini, Italian politician Hortense Mancini(1646-1699), Duchess of Mazari Laura Mancini(1636 – 1657), mother of Louis Joseph, duc de Vendôme Olympia Mancini, lover of Louis XIV and mother of Eugene of Savoy Pasquale Stanislao Mancini, Italian politics From Wikipedia Mancini Links Mancini Link from Ancestry Mancini Link from Forbears Mancini Link from Nobility of Naples Mancini Link from Libro d’Oro #1 Russo #2 Ferrari #3 Esposito #4 Bianchi #5 Romano #6 Columbo #7 Ricci #8 Marino #9 Greco #10 Bruno #11 Gallo #12 Conti #13 DeLuca # 14 Costa # 15 Giordano

Bob talks with Frank Passaro who splits his time between Narni Umbria and Baltimore. Frank’s story includes how his mother was kidnapped by her father and returned to Italy after being born in France. Podcast Click here to join our group on Facebook Visit Our Shop Video Click here to get your copy of Farmers and Nobles

Number 11 Italian Surname Gallo The popular Italian surnameGallo has several possible origins. From the Latin gallus, meaning “cock, rooster,” Gallo was often bestowed as a nickname for a proud person, especially one with a “cocky” or vain attitude. It may also have been used to describe someone with other attributes commonly attributed to a rooster, such as a loud voice, snappy dress, or sexual prowess. Gallo may also have originated as a name for someone from France or Gaul (Latin Gallus), or as a habitational name from any of several places named Gallo, especially common in southern Italy. The most prominent example is Gallo Matese in the Italian province of Caserta. Alternate Surname Spellings: GALLI, GALLETTI, GALLINI, GALLONI, GALLONE, GALLUCCI, GALLELLI, GALLACCIO Surname Origin: Italian, Spanish, Greek From Thought.com Click here to join Italian Roots and Genealogy on Facebook Scroll down to see the Top Ten Geographical distribution As of 2014, 36.1% of all known bearers of the surname Gallo were residents of Italy(frequency 1:680), 11.8% of Argentina(1:1,451), 11.7% of the United States(1:12,385), 7.1% of Colombia(1:2,691), 5.9% of the Philippines(1:6,855), 5.6% of Brazil(1:14,574), 3.0% of Mexico(1:16,388), 2.6% of Peru(1:4,966), 2.2% of Spain(1:8,604), 2.0% of Ecuador(1:3,181), 2.0% of France(1:13,504) and 1.0% of Uruguay(1:1,357). In Italy, the frequency of the surname was higher than national average (1:680) in the following regions: 1. Piedmont(1:207) 2. Calabria(1:224) 3. Campania(1:326) 4. Liguria(1:491) 5. Molise(1:650) In Spain, the frequency of the surname was higher than national average (1:8,604) in the following autonomous communities: 1. Cantabria(1:2,082) 2. Basque Country(1:3,083) 3. Castile and León(1:3,095) 4. La Rioja(1:4,814) 5. Asturias(1:5,193) 6. Navarre(1:5,218) 7. Community of Madrid(1:6,287) In Argentina, the frequency of the surname was higher than national average (1:1,451) in the following provinces:[1] 1. Santiago del Estero Province(1:375) 2. Córdoba Province(1:1,213) 3. Buenos Aires Province(1:1,234) 4. Santa Fe Province(1:1,238) 5. Salta Province(1:1,254) 6. La Pampa Province(1:1,262) 7. Tucumán Province(1:1,263) People Agostino Gallo(1499–1570), Italian agronomist American gangsters: Albert Gallo, one of the “Gallo brothers” Joe Gallo, one of the “Gallo brothers” Joseph N. Gallo, consiglieri of the Gambino crime family Larry Gallo, one of the “Gallo brothers” Anna Maria Gallo, better known as Mary Frances of the Five Wounds of Jesus, Italian saint Andrea Gallo(1928–2013), Italian Roman Catholic priest Anthony Gallo(born 1965), guitarist Armando Gallo, Italian journalist and photographer Bill Gallo, cartoonist and columnist for the New York Daily News Carla Gallo, American actress Dean Gallo, American congressman Diego Gallo, Uruguayan swimmer Domenico Gallo, Italian composer and violinist whose works are sometimes mistakenly attributed to Pergolesi. E & J Gallo Winery, founded in 1933 Ernest Gallo, co-founder Julio Gallo, co-founder Joseph Edward Gallo, brother of Ernest and Julio Gallo Inigo Gallo, Swiss actor and playwright Fortune Gallo, impresario of the San Carlo Opera Company George Gallo, American film producer Joey Gallo (baseball), MLB player Mario Gallo, Italian born Argentine film director Max Gallo, French author who wrote a series of novels based on the life of Napoleon I of France Marielle Gallo, French Member of the European Parliament Melissa Gallo, now uses the name Melissa Fumero Robert Gallo, retrovirus expert famous for his co-discovery of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS Ron Gallo, American musician Vincent Gallo, film director Samuel Sarfati, physician to Pope Julius II, known as Gallo From Wikipedia Click here to purchase Farmers and Nobles my new book Gallo Links Gallo Link from Ancestry Gallo Link from Forbears Gallo Link from igenea.  They have a research project for Gallo. Requirements: A Surname Project traces members of a family that share a common surname. They are of the most interest in cultures where surnames are passed on from father to son like the Y-Chromosome. This project is for males taking a Y-Chromosome DNA (Y-DNA) test. Thus, the individual who tests must be a male who wants to check his direct paternal line (father’s father’s father’s…) with a Y-DNA12, Y-DNA37, Y-DNA67, or Y-DNA111 test and who has one of the surnames listed for the project. Females do not carry their father’s Y-DNA. Females who would like to check their father’s direct paternal line can have a male relative with his surname order a Y-DNA test. Females can also order an mtDNA test for themselves such as the mtDNAPlus test or the mtFullSequence test and participate in an mtDNA project. Both men and women may take our autosomal Family Finder test to discover recent relationships across all family lines. Other surnames in Project Gallo Join the Gallo surname project: If you want to join the Gallo project please order your DNA test here: #1 Russo #2 Ferrari #3 Esposito #4 Bianchi #5 Romano #6 Columbo #7 Ricci #8 Marino #9 Greco #10 Bruno

Michele Cole talks about starting her research with her Italian grandmother and branching out to her Danish roots from her grandfather. Visit Our Shop Podcast Click here to purchase my new book Farmers and Nobles Click here to join our group on Facebook Video

Number 10 Italian Surname Bruno Join Italian Roots and Genealogy on Facebook Click here to purchase a copy of my story I didn’t have any of the first 9 surnames in my family, but have some Bruno’s going back to Bari in my family tree. The Italian Bruno surname has a few possible sources. It is a patronymicname created from the originally Germanic personal name Bruno. It evolved as a nicknamefrom the Italian word “bruno,” meaning “brown,” referring to the hair color or perhaps complexion. It may also have evolved as a habitational name from a place name, such as Bruno, in Asti province. Early Origins of the Bruno family The surname Bruno was first found in Florence (Italian: Firenze), originally the capital of Tuscany, then capital of the kingdom of Italy. The Bruno or Bruni family were originally from Arezzo but this part of their early history is not traceable. The Brunelli family are on record in Venicefrom 1151. During the 11th and 12th centuries the family branched from Florence south to Norman dominated Sicilywhere Giovanni di Bruno held a castle in Palermo in 1282. Early History of the Bruno family This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bruno research. Another 229 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1360, 1444, 1467, 1493, 1548, 1600, 1580, 1370, 1444, 1600, 1600, 1666, 1577, 1630, 1681, 1710 and 1649 are included under the topic Early Bruno History in all our PDF Extended History productsand printed products wherever possible. Bruno Spelling Variations Spelling variationsof this family name include: Bruno, Bruni, di Bruno, di Bruni, Bruni, Bruno, Bruna, Brun, Brunèlli, Brunelli, Brunèllo, Brunello, Brunèlla, Brunella, Brunellèschi, Brunelleschi, Brunètti, Brunetti, Brunetto, Brunètto, Brunini, Bruntti, Brunotti, Brunne, Brunone, Brunacci, Brunazzi, Brunaldi, Brunati, Brunato, Brunatti, Brunèngo, Brunengo, Brunèri, Bruneri, Brunèro, Brunaccini, Brunamonti, Brunero, Brunèse, Brunese, Brunod, Brunri and many more. Early Notables of the Bruno family (pre 1700) Prominent among members of the family was Leonardo Bruni (or Leonardo Aretino) (c.1370-1444), an Italian humanist, historian and statesman; often called the first modern historian; Antonio Bruni of Manduria was a famous poet around 1600; Domenico Bruni (c.1600-1666), an Italian painter of the Baroque period; the Brunelli family in… Another 122 words (9 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bruno Notables in all our PDF Extended History productsand printed products wherever possible. From www.houseofnames.com Recorded in many spellings from Brown, Broune, and De Bruyn, to Brauner, Bruni and Brunet, this ancient and prolific surname derives, from a pre 7th century Germanic and Anglo-Saxon word “brun” or the Olde Norse personal name “Bruni”. Originally this name would probably have been a nationlistic or tribal nickname for a person with a brown complexion or hair, although it may also have referred to someone who habitually wore brown clothing, such as a monk or cleric. The baptismal name as Brun or the latinized Brunus, was a popular name in the period upto the introduction of surnames in the 12th century, see below. Irish name holders derive from 12th century Norman sources. In the west the Browne’s are the descendants of a knight called ” Hugo le Brun”, amd form one of the ancient “Tribes of Galway”, as recorded in the “Annals of the nine kings”. The Browne’s of Killarney form a separate branch and are descended from a later Elizabethan settler. Amongst the early surname recordings are those of Hugh Bron of Stafford, England, in the year 1274, and Hugo Brun of Erfurt, Germany, in 1407. Christopher Browne is recorded as being one of the very first settlers in the new American colonies. In the very first listing of the colonists of New England he is shown to be “living in Virginea, on February 16th 1623”.The first recorded spelling of the family name anywhere in the world is probably that of William le Brun, which was dated 1169, in the Pipe Rolls of the county of Northumberland, England. This was during the reign of King Henry 11, known as “The church builder”, 1154 – 1189. From Surname Database Notable historical names Bruno, Duke of Saxony(died 880) Saint Bruno I, Archbishop of Cologne(died 965) Pope Gregory V(c. 972–999) whose given name was Bruno of Carinthia Saint Bruno of Querfurt(died 1009) Bishop Bruno of Augsburg(died 1029) Saint Bruno, Bishop of Würzburg(died 1045) Pope Leo IX(1002–1054) whose given name was Bruno, Count of Dagsbourg Bruno II(1024–1057) Bruno the Saxon(fl. 2nd half of the 11th century), historian Bruno of Cologne(d. 1101), founder of the Carthusians Saint Bruno, Bishop of Segni(died 1123) Giordano Bruno(1548–1600) Italian mathematician and philosopher Henri Reynders (Dom Bruno)(1903–1981), Catholic priest From Wikipedia Bruno Stemma   First 9 Italian Surnames #1 Russo #2 Ferrari #3 Esposito #4 Bianchi #5 Romano #6 Columbo #7 Ricci #8 Marino # 9 Greco Bruno Links Bruno Link from Forbears Bruno di Tornaforte Link from Libro d’Oro Counts of Samone Bruno Link from igenea.  They have a research project for Marino. Members: 5 Description: The Bruno DNA Project has been organized for all who wish to work together to find their common heritage through DNA testing and sharing of information. All variant spellings are welcome. If your Surname spelling is missing, we’ll be glad to add it. Please visit our website and add your family to the Patriarch Page. Requirements: A Surname Project traces members of a family that share a common surname. They are of the most interest in cultures where surnames are passed on from father to son like the Y-Chromosome. This project is for males taking a Y-Chromosome DNA (Y-DNA) test. Thus, the individual who tests must be a male who wants to check his direct paternal line (father’s father’s father’s…) with a Y-DNA12, Y-DNA37, Y-DNA67, or Y-DNA111 test and who has one of the surnames listed for the project. Females do not carry their father’s Y-DNA. Females who would like to check their father’s direct paternal line can have a male relative with his surname order a Y-DNA test. Females can also order an mtDNA test for themselves such as the mtDNAPlus test or the mtFullSequence test and participate in an mtDNA project. Both men and women may take our autosomal Family Finder test to discover recent relationships across all family lines.