Amodei History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Italy

From the historical and enchanting Italian region of Tuscany emerged a multitude of noble families, including the distinguished Amodei family. During the Middle Ages, as populations grew and travel between regions became more frequent, the people of Tuscany found it necessary to adopt a second name to identify themselves and their families. The process of adopting fixed hereditary surnames was 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 Tuscany is the patronymic surname, which is derived from the father's given name, the nickname type of surname is also frequently found. Nickname surnames 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 Amodei is a name for a person who derived their name for the Italian phrase che ama Dio, or ama Dio, which means one whom God loves.

Early Origins of the Amodei family

The surname Amodei was first found in Lucca, a city and comune in Tuscany, capital of the province of Lucca where Bascilican type churches abound and where the main branch of the family originates with the Amadi family in the 14th century.

Early History of the Amodei family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Amodei research. The years 1379, 1480, 1483, 1524, 1580, 1644, 1650 and 1695 are included under the topic Early Amodei History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Amodei Spelling Variations

Italian surnames come in far more variations than the names of most other nationalities. Regional traditions and dialects are a decisive factor in this characteristic. For example, northern names tend to end in "o", while southern in "i". Also important, but not unique to Italy, was the fact that before dictionaries and the printing press most scribes simply spelled words according to their sounds. The predictable result was an enormous number of spelling variations. The recorded spellings of Amodei include Amaddei, Amaddo, Amado, Amaddìi, Amaddìo, Amade, Amadei, Amadi, Amadini, Amadio, Amedei, Amedeo, Amidei, Amideo, Amoddeo, Amodei and many more.

Early Notables of the Amodei family

Prominent among members of the family was

Giovanni Amadei of Venice, who was made bishop in 1379. The Amadi family in Venice were made official nobility of the city in 1480. Also during the latter 15th century was Giovanni Antonio Amadeo, a r...

Amodei migration to the United States +

In the immigration and passenger lists a number of early immigrants bearing the name Amodei were found:

Amodei Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Emiddio Amodei, aged 31, who immigrated to the United States, in 1894
Brigida Amodei, aged 66, who immigrated to the United States, in 1896
Adelina Amodei, aged 10, who landed in America from Colli al Volturno, in 1899

Amodei Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Antonio Amodei, aged 29, who settled in America from Colli al Volturno, in 1902
Gianbattisti Amodei, aged 3, who immigrated to the United States from Vittoria, Sicily, in 1910
Giuseppa Amodei, aged 22, who landed in America from Giuliana, Sicily, in 1911
Antonino Amodei, aged 47, who landed in America from Giuliana, Sicily, in 1911
Ferdinando Amodei, aged 46, who landed in America from Colli Volti, Italy, in 1912
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Amodei (post 1700) +

Mark Eugene Amodei (1958-2011), American politician, United States Representative for Nevada's second congressional district since 2011
Ivan Amodei (b. 1976), Italian magician who specializes in close-up magic, parlor magic and sleight of hand
Fausto Amodei (b. 1935), Italian folk singer -songwriter and musicologist