Bonano 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 Bonano 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 Bonano is a name for a fortunate person having derived from the words buon, which means good, and anno, which means year, combined to mean good year.

Early Origins of the Bonano family

The surname Bonano was first found in Pisa, where in 1130 a Bonanno was a prominent intellectual. Bonanno who was a painter, sculptor, and architect, and who is famous for the bronze doors of the Cathedral in Pisa which he finished in the 12th century. Another of his accomplishments is the leaning tower at Pisa, which he constructed with Gugliemo Tedesco in 1174.

Early History of the Bonano family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bonano research. The years 1545, 1638, 1723 and 1800 are included under the topic Early Bonano History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bonano Spelling Variations

In comparison with other European surnames, Italian surnames have a surprising number of forms. They reflect the regional variations and the many dialects of the Italian language, each with its own distinctive features. For example, in Northern Italy the typical Italian surname suffix is "i", whereas in Southern Italy it is "o". Additionally, spelling changes frequently occurred because medieval scribes and church officials often spelled names as they sounded rather than according to any specific spelling rules. The spelling variations in the name Bonano include Bonanno, Bonanni, Buonanno, Buonanni, Bonano, Bonan and many more.

Early Notables of the Bonano family

Prominent among members of the family was Giacomo Bonanno was Baron of Canicatti, and was a famous author; Pietro Bonanno was the first Prince of Roccafiorita and was Baron of Castelmare; Giacomo Bonanno was the first Bishop of Patti, and was also Archbishop of Monreale. Rinaldo Bonanno was an...
Another 49 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bonano Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bonano migration to the United States +

An examination into the immigration and passenger lists has discovered a number of people bearing the name Bonano:

Bonano Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Salvatore Bonano, aged 22, who immigrated to the United States from Licasa, Sicily, in 1908
Vincenzo Bonano, aged 20, who landed in America from Caltagirone, Sicily, in 1910
Maria Bonano, aged 8, who immigrated to the United States from Trapani, Sicily, in 1913
Giuseppa Bonano, aged 13, who settled in America from Erofani Sicily, in 1913
Ignacia Bonano, aged 7, who landed in America from Marsala, Sicily, in 1914
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Bonano (post 1700) +

Joseph Gustaf "Sharkey" Bonano (1904-1972), American jazz trumpeter, band leader, and vocalist from New Orleans, Louisiana
Roberto Oscar Bonano (b. 1970), Argentine retired footballer
Manuel Garrido Bonaño (b. 1925), Spanish writer