Favella History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Italy

From the ancient and picturesque Italian region of Venice emerged a variety of distinguished names, including the notable surname Favella. 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 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 are also found. Local names, which are the least frequent of the major types of surnames found in Italy, are derived from a place-name where the original bearer once resided or held land. Often Italian local surnames bore the prefix "di," which signifies emigration from one place to another, but does not necessarily denote nobility.

Early Origins of the Favella family

The surname Favella was first found in the city of Treviso, where the Favero family lived as early as 1308.

Early History of the Favella family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Favella research. The years 1509, 1604, 1669 and 1744 are included under the topic Early Favella History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Favella Spelling Variations

Italian surnames come in far more variations than the names of most other nationalities. Regional traditions and dialects are a decisive factor in this characteristic. For example, northern names tend to end in "o", while southern in "i". Also important, but not unique to Italy, was the fact that before dictionaries and the printing press most scribes simply spelled words according to their sounds. The predictable result was an enormous number of spelling variations. The recorded spellings of Favella include Fava, Favre, Favi, Favella, Favelli, Favetta, Favetti, Favino, Favini, Favuzza, Favazzi, Favale, Favali, Favalini, Favalli, Favano, Favara, Favari, Favar, Favareto, Favata, Favati, Faveto and many more.

Early Notables of the Favella family

Prominent among members of the family was Oddo Fava, a philosopher and member of the government Council in Bologna; Guglielmo Favre was a famous lawyer in Aosta during the 14th century; Nicolo di Pietro Fava was one of the 16 reformists in Bologna and was ambassador to many princes. However, with the French invasion and the League of Cambrai in 1509, Venice lost most of its territory. The Venetians also lost their trading power with the East and...
Another 77 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Favella Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Favella family

Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Favella or a variant listed above: Alfredo Favale, aged 37, who arrived at Ellis Island from Napoli, Italy, in 1924; Andrea Favale, aged 28, who arrived at Ellis Island from Montalbono, Italy, in 1920.

Contemporary Notables of the name Favella (post 1700) +

Anna Favella (b. 1983), Italian stage, television and movie actress, best known for her role as Elena Marsili in the TV series Terra ribelle