Show ContentsBrunelli History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Italian Brunelli surname has a few possible sources. It is a patronymic name created from the originally Germanic personal name Bruno. It evolved as a nickname from 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 Brunelli family

The surname Brunelli 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 Venice from 1151. During the 11th and 12th centuries the family branched from Florence south to Norman dominated Sicily where Giovanni di Bruno held a castle in Palermo in 1282.

Early History of the Brunelli family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brunelli research. Another 229 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1360, 1370, 1444, 1467, 1493, 1548, 1577, 1580, 1600, 1630, 1649, 1666, 1681, 1710 and 1753 are included under the topic Early Brunelli History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brunelli Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of 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 Brunelli family

Prominent among members of the family was

  • the Brunelli family in Rome produced a Cardinal who was known for his extraordinary intelligence
  • Antonio Brunelli (1577-1630), an Italian composer and theorist of the early Baroque period

Migration of the Brunelli family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Francesco Brunetti, who arrived in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1823 at the age of 42; Franco Brunetto arrived in New Orleans in 1823 at the age of 42; Colozero and Leonardo Bruno settled in Texas in 1895 at the ages of 24 and 45 respectively..


Contemporary Notables of the name Brunelli (post 1700) +

  • Nicholas "Nick" James Brunelli (b. 1981), American two-time gold freestyle swimmer
  • Camilla Brunelli (b. 1957), Italian historian
  • Michela Brunelli (b. 1974), Italian silver medalist Paralympic athlete at the 2008 Paralympic Games


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