Dolfin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland
Italy

The distinguished surname Dolfin 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 Dolfin came from the personal name Delfino, which is derived from the Latin name Delphinus or delphinus, which means dolphin.

Early Origins of the Dolfin family

The surname Dolfin was first found in 982 Calocino Delfina served in the Byzantine administration as Captain of the area of southern Italy.

Early History of the Dolfin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dolfin research. The years 1275, 1350, 1510, 1545, 1617 and 1660 are included under the topic Early Dolfin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dolfin 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 Dolfin include Delfino, Delfini, Dalfino, Delfina, Dolfin, Dolfinone, Dalfini, Dolfino, Dolfini and many more.

Early Notables of the Dolfin family

Prominent among members of the family was

Baldovino Dolfin, a member of the Venetian government in 1275
Francesco Dolfin was a Venetian nobleman and was the Roman military captain around 1350
Giovanni Dolfin, born in Venice in 1545, was elected ambassador to France and was famous for his international political involvement
Giovanni Dolfin was a Venetian cardinal around 1617
Daniele Dolfin was an ecclesiastic in Venice in 1660

Migration of the Dolfin family

Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Dolfin or a variant listed above: Anna Delfino, aged 20, who arrived at Ellis Island from Valguarnera, Sicily, in 1920; Annunziata Delfino, aged 36, who arrived at Ellis Island from Villa S. Giovanni, in 1902.

Contemporary Notables of the name Dolfin (post 1700) +

John Dolfin Jr., American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Michigan State Senate 23rd District, 1934