Fanton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Italy

Venice, one of the oldest and most beautiful island regions of Italy, is the esteemed birthplace of numerous prominent families, including the family that bears the surname Fanton. 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 are characterized by a profusion of derivatives coined from given names. Although the most common type of family name found in Venice is the patronymic surname, which is derived from the father's given name, names derived from occupations are also found. Occupational surnames, which are less common than other types of surnames in Italy, date back to the feudal era. However, under the Feudal System, occupational names did not become hereditary until the offices themselves became hereditary. It was only after an occupation was inherited by several generations in lineal descent that occupational names came to be applied to entire families, and so became a hereditary surname. The surname Fanton is a common occupational name for a person who was a "foot soldier." The earliest origins of this surname have been traced to Bologna, one of the more prosperous cities at this early time. The Fantuzzi family, who moved to the city in 1231, were immediately recognized as nobility and were given seats in the Senate.

Early Origins of the Fanton family

The surname Fanton was first found in Bologna (Latin: Bononia), one of the more prosperous cities at this early time. In 1231 the Fantuzzi family moved to the city and were immediately recognized as nobility and were given seats in the Senate.

Early History of the Fanton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fanton research. The years 1434, 1435, 1620, 1659, 1677, 1688, 1734 and 1759 are included under the topic Early Fanton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fanton 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 Fanton are Fanti, Fante, Fant, Fancelli, Fanceto, Fanfani, Fancello, Fancella, Fancel, Del Fante, De Fant, Fantini, Fantino, Fantin, Fantinelli, Fantinato, Fantoli, Fantolini, Fantucci, Fantuzzi, Fantuzzo, Fantuz, Fantus, Fantocci, Fantozzi, Fantoni, Fanton, and Fantacci, Fantazzi and many more.

Early Notables of the Fanton family

Prominent among members of the family was

Marc'Antonio Fantuzzi was a waiter for Pope Gregorio XIII. Cosimo Fancelli (c.1620-1688), was an Italian sculptor of the Baroque period, active in Rome. Andrea Fantoni (1659-1734) was an Italian sculp...

Fanton migration to the United States +

In the immigration and passenger lists a number of early immigrants bearing the name Fanton were found:

Fanton Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Bridget Fanton, aged 28, who arrived in America, in 1895

Fanton Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Henry Fanton, aged 40, who arrived in America, in 1906
Mary Fanton, aged 38, who arrived in America, in 1909
Anna Fanton, aged 29, who arrived in America from Tersero, Austria, in 1911
Giv. Batt. Fanton, aged 30, who arrived in America from Consedo, Italy, in 1913
Giovanni Fanton, aged 30, who arrived in America from Calalzo di Cadore, Italy, in 1914
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Fanton migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Fanton Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

James Fanton, aged 30, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Thomas Hanford" from Cork, Ireland

Contemporary Notables of the name Fanton (post 1700) +

Dimon S. Fanton (1838-1882), American politician, 9th Warden of the Borough of Norwalk, Connecticut (1856-1859)
Andy Fanton, British comic strip creator, artist and writer