Show ContentsCanali History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Italian name Canali is derived from one of several places named Canale in northern Italy. The place name comes from the Italian word "canale," meaning "canal." 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, created from place names are also found. These local names, are derived from a place-name where the original bearer once resided or held land, and often bear the prefix "di," meaning "from."

Early Origins of the Canali family

The surname Canali was first found in the area around the city of Ferrara, where Tommaso Canali was a judge in the mid 12th century. One line of the Canali family originated in the Polcevera valley, northwest Italy, and was first mentioned in documents dating from the year 1100. Of this line, Emanuele Canale was a member of the faction that supported Paolo Da Novi in 1506. Otto Canella (d. before 1143) was Consul of Genoa in 1133 and is an ancestor of the House of Grimaldi, the family which to this day, rules Monaco.

Early History of the Canali family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Canali research. Another 63 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1275, 1322, 1470, 1505, 1610, 1697, 1725, 1730, 1768 and 1802 are included under the topic Early Canali History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Canali Spelling Variations

There are many variations of most of those Italian names that originated in the medieval era. Some of these come from regional differences, like the tradition of ending northern names in "o" and southern names in "i". Others come from inaccuracies in the recording process, which were extremely common in the eras before dictionaries standardized spelling. Some of the spelling variations of Canali are Canal, Canale, Canali, Da Canale, Da Canàl, Da Canal, Canaletto, Canalini, Canales and many more.

Early Notables of the Canali family

Prominent among members of the family was

  • Guidone Canali, who was the Bishop of Turin in 1322

Migration of the Canali family

In the immigration and passenger lists a number of early immigrants bearing the name Canali were found: Gusto Canale, who arrived in the city of Philadelphia in 1868; F. Canales, who arrived in New Orleans in 1825; A. Canales, who arrived in New Orleans in 1829.


Contemporary Notables of the name Canali (post 1700) +

  • Francesco Canali (1764-1835), Cardinal of Perugia in 1831


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