Show ContentsFeliciani History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Feliciani is a patronymic surname, created 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. The name Feliciani came from the Latin word "felix," which means "happy."

Early Origins of the Feliciani family

The surname Feliciani was first found in Rome (Italian: Roma), the capital of the Kingdom of Italy, where Marcus Antonius Felix was a prominent member of the community, as he is known to have cleared the country of robbers.

Early History of the Feliciani family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Feliciani research. The years 1217, 1291, 1433, 1463 and 1479 are included under the topic Early Feliciani History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Feliciani 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 Feliciani include Felici, Felice, Filice, Felise, Felis, Felisaz, De Felice, De Felici, Del Felice, Di Felice, Felicetti, Felicetta, Felicini, Felicioli, Feliciotti, Feliciani, Felician, Feliziani, Felicioni, Felisati, Felisatti, Feliciangeli, Felicitas and many more.

Early Notables of the Feliciani family

Prominent among members of the family was

  • Giurarono Feliciani of Bologna was a part of the crusades in 1217...
  • Enrichetto Feliciani was a member of government in 1291 in Bologna, and was also involved in planning of urban streets...

Migration of the Feliciani family

Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Feliciani or a variant listed above: Amantonia DeFelice, aged 26, who arrived at Ellis Island from Casoli, Italy, in 1907; Angelo DeFelice, aged 39, who arrived at Ellis Island from Vasto, Italy, in 1916.



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