Show ContentsFerretti History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

From the ancient and beautiful Italian island of Sicily emerged a variety of distinguished names, including the notable surname Ferretti. 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 were characterized by a profusion of derivatives coined from given names. Although the most traditional type of family name found in the region of Sicily 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, and does not necessarily denote nobility. The Ferretti family lived in Sicily where records date their presence as early as 1060.

Early Origins of the Ferretti family

The surname Ferretti was first found in on the island in 1060. An important member of the Ferretti lineage at this time was Tomaso Ferro, mayor of Sassuolo in 1288; Tuccio Ferrucci was Captain of the defense of Pistoia in 1305, when Arrigo VII was ruler of the city.

Early History of the Ferretti family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ferretti research. Another 43 words (3 lines of text) covering the years 1406, 1431, 1450, 1490, 1500, 1540, 1567, 1576, 1583, 1586, 1588, 1591, 1601, 1610, 1625, 1634, 1638, 1665, 1674, 1689, 1690 and 1868 are included under the topic Early Ferretti History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ferretti Spelling Variations

Enormous variation in spelling and form characterizes those Italian names that originated in the medieval era. This is caused by two main factors: regional tradition, and inaccuracies in the recording process. Before the last few hundred years, scribes spelled names according to their sounds. Spelling variations were the unsurprising result. The variations of Ferretti include Ferro, Ferri, Fierro, Ferretti, Ferretto, Ferrettini, Ferrettino, Ferrini, Ferrino, Ferrin, Ferin, Ferrucci, Ferruzzi, Ferroli, Ferrotti, Ferrieri, Ferranti, Ferrillo, Ferrulli, Ferrato, Ferriani, Ferraiolo, Ferraioli, Ferraiuolo, Ferraiulo and many more.

Early Notables of the Ferretti family

Prominent among bearers of this surname in early times was

  • Domenico Ferretti, a diplomat and jurist in Castelfranco in 1490. Giulio Ferretti was a Statesman and jurisconsult in Ravenna in 1500; Raimondo Ferretti, governor of Loreto and Archbishop of Ravenna i...
  • Bartolomeo Ferretti of Genoa was Senator in 1638; Nicolo Ferretti was a famous poet in Ravenna around 1450; Giampietro Ferretti was Bishop of Milo; Tomaso Ferri was mayor of Sassuolo in 1583. Diego Fe...
  • Giovanni Ferretti, born at Venice about 1540, composed five books of 'Canzoni' in 5 parts (Venice 1567-1591), 2 books in 6 parts (Venice 1576-1586), and another of 5-part madrigals (Venice 1588), all...

Ferretti Ranking

In the United States, the name Ferretti is the 9,137th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1


United States Ferretti migration to the United States +

A look at the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Ferretti:

Ferretti Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Achille Archimide Ferretti, aged 20, who landed in America from Cerreto Alpi, Italy, in 1909
  • Adelino Ferretti, aged 26, who immigrated to the United States from Palmiano, Ascoli Piceno, in 1909
  • Adorina Ferretti, aged 28, who landed in America from Favale, Genova, in 1909
  • Alberto Ferretti, aged 32, who settled in America from Cerreto Alpi, Italy, in 1909
  • Adorina Ferretti, aged 29, who settled in America from Favole, Genova, in 1909
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Ferretti (post 1700) +

  • Dante Ferretti (b. 1943), Italian Academy Award and three-time BAFTA winning designer, art director and costume designer

Halifax Explosion
  • Mr. Antonio di Carminci  Ferretti (1891-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 2


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance


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