Show ContentsCecchetto History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The distinguished surname Cecchetto 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 Cecchetto came from the given name "Cecco," which in turn is a variant of "Francesco," or "Francis."

Early Origins of the Cecchetto family

The surname Cecchetto was first found in the city of Rome, where earliest records date back to Rinaldo Ceci, who moved his family to Velletri when he was appointed mayor of the city.

Early History of the Cecchetto family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cecchetto research. The years 1450, 1518 and 1800 are included under the topic Early Cecchetto History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cecchetto Spelling Variations

In comparison with other European surnames, Italian surnames have a surprising number of forms. They reflect the regional variations and the many dialects of the Italian language, each with its own distinctive features. For example, in Northern Italy the typical Italian surname suffix is "i", whereas in Southern Italy it is "o". Additionally, spelling changes frequently occurred because medieval scribes and church officials often spelled names as they sounded rather than according to any specific spelling rules. The spelling variations in the name Cecchetto include Cecchi, Cecco, Di Cecco, Ceco, Ceci, Cecchelli, Cecchelìn, Checcherini, Checchetti, Cecchetti, Cecchetto, Cecchèt, Cechèt, Cecchettìn, Ceccatelli, Cecchini, Cecchin, Cecchinelli, Cecchinato, Ceccaldi, Ceccardi, Ceccanti, Ceccantini, Ceccato, Cecàt and many more.

Early Notables of the Cecchetto family

Prominent among members of the family was Domenico Cecchi, a Florentine businessman around 1450; Giovanni Maria Cecchi, a famous playwright born in Florence in 1518; the Cecchi family of Aqua Fresca, who owned the most...
Another 35 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cecchetto Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Cecchetto family

Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Cecchetto or a variant listed above: Ann Ceco, who arrived in Virginia in 1663; Enrico Checchetti, a famous dancer who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with his parents in 1857; Abdon Cecchini, aged 17, who arrived at Ellis Island from Varsi, Italy, in 1913.


Contemporary Notables of the name Cecchetto (post 1700) +

  • Renato Cecchetto (1951-2022), Italian actor and voice artist


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