| ![Show Contents]() Benanti History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Italy The distinguished surname Benanti originated in an area of Italy, known as the Papal States. 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, 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. The most traditional type of family name found in the region of the Papal States is the patronymic surname, which is derived from the father's given name. During the Middle Ages, Italians adopted the patronymic system of name-making because it perfectly complemented the prevailing Feudal System. In Italy the popularity of patronymic type of surname is also due to the fact that during the Christian era, people often named their children after saints and biblical figures. The surname Benanti came from the Italian personal name "Beno." Further research showed the name was derived from the Latin word bene which means well, in good health. Early Origins of the Benanti familyThe surname Benanti was first found in Gubbio, a city in the region of Umbria. The family can be traced back to the 10th century, when Federigo Beni of Gubbio became mayor of Mantua and eventually senator of Milan. The name means "benign," "friendly," or "harmless." The name therefore probably originated as a nickname for a man who displayed those characteristics. Early History of the Benanti familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Benanti research. Another 102 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1618, 1650, 1660, 1684, 1780, 1784, 1787 and 1877 are included under the topic Early Benanti History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Benanti Spelling VariationsSurnames that originated in Italy are characterized by an enormous number of spelling variations. Some of these are derived from regional traditions and dialects. Northern names, for instance, often end in "o", while southern names tend to end in "i". Other variations come from the fact the medieval scribes tended to spell according to the sound of words, rather than any particular set of rules. The recorded variations of Benanti include Beni, Bene, Del Bene, Benelli, Benella, Benini, Benigni, Benucci, Benuzzi, Benussi, Benocci, Benozzi, Benolli, Benoli, Benotti, Benotto, Benoni, Benone, Benacci, Benassi, Benazzi, Benazzoli, Benacchio, Benaglio, Benaglia, Benanti, Benati, Benato, Bennato and many more. Early Notables of the Benanti familyProminent among bearers of this family in early times was Giacomo Beni, Bishop of Fano, and Giuseppe Beni was Bishop of Carpentras in the 18th century. The Beni family of Gubbio owned vast amounts of land and were Counts. Prominent members of the Benanti family during this later period include a Benelli born in Prato in 1877, who was a famous author; Giuseppe Benelli was a renowned mechanic of guns, cars and motorcycles in the early 20th century. Signora Benini was an Italian...
Another 82 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Benanti Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Benanti familyAn examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Benanti arrived in North America very early: Abraham Beni, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1727.
| Contemporary Notables of the name Benanti (post 1700) | + |
- Laura Benanti (b. 1979), American Tony award winning and Drama Desk Award winning stage and screen actress
- Jerome Benanti, American politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly 15th District, 1965
- Frank Benanti, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Missouri State House of Representatives from Jackson County 1st District, 1943-44
| Historic Events for the Benanti family | + |
Triangle Waist Company - Miss Vincenza Benanti (b. 1889), Italian garment worker who was working at Triangle Waist Company factory at the Asch building in Greenwich Village on the 25th March 1911 when fire broke out; she died in the fire 1
- Miss Tessa Benanti (b. 1895), Italian garment worker who was working at Triangle Waist Company factory at the Asch building in Greenwich Village on the 25th March 1911 when fire broke out; she survived the fire 1
 |
