Montanari History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Italy

From the ancient and picturesque Italian region of Venice emerged a variety of distinguished names, including the notable surname Montanari. Although people were originally known only by a single name, it became necessary for people to adopt 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, 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 are characterized by a profusion of derivatives coined from given names. Although the most traditional type of family name found in the region of Venice is the patronymic surname, which is derived from the father's given name, local surnames are also found. Local names, which are the least frequent of the major types of surnames found in Italy, are derived from a place-name where the original bearer once resided or held land. Often Italian local surnames bore the prefix "di," which signifies emigration from one place to another, but does not necessarily denote nobility. The Montanari family lived on a mountain or near a mountainous area. The name Montagna is derived from the Italian word montagna or montano, which means a mountain. Sometimes the name was used for someone who came from Montagna.

Early Origins of the Montanari family

The surname Montanari was first found in numerous regions, although Venice is the city of origin for both Montagna and Montan branches. Montana was widespread in Sicily, Montano and Montani in Liguria, Montanelli in Tuscany, and Montanari in Emilia Romagna. The name and its variants all stem from people who lived in or near mountainous regions.

Early History of the Montanari family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Montanari research. The years 1406, 1440, 1450, 1523, 1608, 1633 and 1687 are included under the topic Early Montanari History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Montanari 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 Montanari include Montagnano, Montagnini, Montagnoni, Montan, Montanari, Montanarini, Montanaro, Montanelli, Montani, Montano, Montana, Montagnino and many more.

Early Notables of the Montanari family

Prominent among members of the family was

Geminiano Montanari (1633-1687), Italian astronomer and lens-maker, eponym of the Montanari lunar crater

Montanari migration to the United States +

Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Montanari or a variant listed above:

Montanari Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

A. Montanari, aged 39 who arrived at Ellis Island from Italy in 1893
A. Montanari, aged 46, who settled in America from Italy, in 1893
Alesfandro Montanari, aged 39 who arrived at Ellis Island in 1898

Montanari Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Desolina Montanari, aged 24, who landed in America from Reggio Emilia, Allessandria, Italy, in 1907
Domenica Montanari, aged 35, who settled in America from Cumiago, Italy, in 1908
Emidio Montanari, aged 47, who immigrated to the United States from Bugnara, Italy, in 1909
Agide Montanari, aged 25, who landed in America from Catignola, Italy, in 1909
Albina Montanari, aged 1, who settled in America from Italy, in 1912
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Montanari (post 1700) +

Richard Montanari, American crime writer
Danila Comastri Montanari (1948-2023), Italian historical mystery fiction writer, known for her Publius Aurelius Statius series
Marcello Montanari (b. 1965), retired Italian professional footballer
Alano Montanari, Italian Grand Prix motorcycle road racer
Hique Montanari, Italian film director, writer, and editor
Sergio Montanari (b. 1937), Italian film editor
Christian Montanari (b. 1981), San Marino racing car driver