Molinari History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Italy

Piedmont, one of the oldest and most beautiful island regions of Italy, is the esteemed birthplace of numerous prominent families, including the family that bears the surname Molinari. Although people were originally known only by a single name, it became necessary for people to adapt a second name to identify themselves as populations grew and travel became more frequent. The process of adopting fixed hereditary surnames was not complete until the modern era; 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 are characterized by a profusion of derivatives coined from given names. Although the most common type of family name found in Piedmont is the patronymic surname, which is derived from the father's given name, names derived from occupations are also found. Occupational surnames, which are less common that other types of surnames in Italy, date back to the feudal era. However, under the Feudal System, occupational names did not become hereditary until the offices themselves became hereditary. It was only after an occupation was inherited by several generations in lineal descent, that occupational names came to be applied to entire families, and so became a hereditary surname. The surname Molinari is a name for a person who owned, managed, or worked in a mill deriving its origin from the Italian word "molino," which meant mill.

Early Origins of the Molinari family

The surname Molinari was first found in Genoa (Italian: Genova), a prosperous city which at one time was a rival with Venice in terms of commerce and trade.

Early History of the Molinari family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Molinari research. The years 1370, 1455, 1570, 1599, 1633, 1655, 1667, 1704 and 1720 are included under the topic Early Molinari History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Molinari Spelling Variations

Italian surnames have a surprising number of forms in comparison with other European surnames because they reflect the regional variations and the many dialects of the Italian language, each of which has its distinctive features. For example, in Northern Italy the most standard Italian surname suffix is "I", whereas in Southern Italy the most typical surname suffix is "O". Sardinian is very different from other forms of Italian and in fact, it is considered to be its own distinct language. Additionally, spelling changes frequently occurred because medieval scribes, church officials, and the bearers of names, spelled names as they sounded rather than according to any specific spelling rules. As a consequence of the major changes in the Italian language and in the local spellings of Italian surnames that occurred over the course of history, there are numerous variations for the surname Molinari. These spelling variations include Molinari, Molinaro, Moliner, Mulinari, Monari, Monaro, Munari, Muner, Mugnai, Molinella, Molinare, Monlinaroli, Molinarolo and many more.

Early Notables of the Molinari family

Prominent among members of the family was

Michelino Molinari da Besozzo (c. 1370-c. 1455), an Italian painter and illuminator who worked mostly in Milan and Lombardy
Antonio Molinari (1655-1704), an Italian painter of the Baroque era in Venice

Molinari Ranking

In the United States, the name Molinari is the 13,701^st most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Molinari is ranked the 5,141^st most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 2

Molinari migration to the United States +

Early immigration records have shown some of the first Molinaris to arrive on North American shores:

Molinari Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Jose Molinari, who landed in Puerto Rico in 1816 3
Francisco Molinari, who landed in Puerto Rico in 1841 3
Frank Molinari, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1878 3
Rabbello Molinari, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1878 3
Andrea Molinari, aged 32, who immigrated to the United States from Montello, in 1898

Molinari Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Alberto Molinari, aged 24, who landed in America from Northern Italy, in 1903
Adelia Molinari, aged 9, who landed in America from Italy, in 1912
Amanda Molinari, aged 32, who settled in America from Venice, Italy, in 1912
Albino Molinari, aged 19, who landed in America from Solignano, Italy, in 1912
Alessandro Molinari, aged 48, who immigrated to the United States from Sinsgallia, Italy, in 1913
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Molinari (post 1700) +

Susan Molinari (b. 1958), American politician
Gaetano Victor "Guy" Molinari (b. 1928), American politician
Susan Molinari (b. 1958), American Republican politician, Member, New York City Council, 1986-90; U.S. Representative from New York, 1990-97 4
S. Robert Molinari, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Richmond County 2nd District, 1943-44; Defeated, 1934, 1944 4
S. R. Molinari, American Republican politician, Candidate in primary for borough President of Richmond, New York, 1953 4
Joseph P. Molinari, American politician, Justice of New York Supreme Court 6th District, 1958 4
John L. Molinari, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from California, 1972 4
Guy Victor Molinari (b. 1928), American Republican politician, Member of New York State Assembly 60th District, 1975-80; U.S. Representative from New York, 1981-90; Borough President of Staten Island, New York, 1990-2001 4
Maurizio Molinari, Italian journalist
Francesco Molinari (b. 1982), Italian two-time European Tour winning professional golfer
... (Another 7 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html