Show ContentsGentili History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Gentili family

The surname Gentili was first found in Calabria and Sicily. Ancient Calabria was in Lecce. Modern Calabria is in the southern extremity of Italy coasting the straits of Messina. The base of the name Gentile, was derived from an original nickname or appellation consists of gentle, and "noble and courteous in the way we feel and behave."

Early History of the Gentili family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gentili research. Another 101 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1441, 1484, 1486, 1489, 1492, 1503, 1507, 1528, 1563, 1590, 1642, 1647, 1649 and 1654 are included under the topic Early Gentili History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gentili Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Gentile, Gentili, Gentil, Gentilucci, Gentileschi, Gentilini and many more.

Early Notables of the Gentili family

By the end of the 15th century, southern Italy was known as the Kingdom of Naples, ruled by the house of Aragon. By the early eighteenth century, the Austrians had gained much of the region, under the rule of the Austrian emperor Kales VI. However, in 1734, Spaniard Don Carlos defeated the Austrians, and the region came under Spanish rule once more. In 1799, the French invaded Naples and in 1806, Napoleon's brother Joseph was made king, but this hold on Italy was not to last. In 1813 the Congress Of Vienna restored pre-Napoleonic rule. Among prominent bearers of this surname in early times were:

  • Antonio Pallavicini Gentili (1441-1507), an Italian Cardinal, was considered papabile in 1492, Bishop of Frascati from April until December 1503, was Bishop of Ventimiglia from 1484, then Bishop of Ou...
  • Robert Gentili (1590-1654?), was an infant prodigy, scapegrace, and translator, eldest son of Alberico Gentili, born in London 11 Sept. 1590, and was named after his godfather the Earl of Essex. (NBio...

Migration of the Gentili family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Achille Gentile, aged 19, who arrived at Ellis Island from Campotant, Italy, in 1912; Agostino Gentile, aged 4, who arrived at Ellis Island, in 1896; Agostino Gentile, aged 19, who arrived at Ellis Island from Campobello, Sicily, in 1910.


Contemporary Notables of the name Gentili (post 1700) +

  • Cecilia Gentili (1972-2024), Argentine American advocate
  • Arturo Gentili (1936-2021), Italian professional footballer who played as a striker (1954-1968)
  • Antoine Gentili, French Divisional General during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from 1789 to 1815 1


  1. Generals Who Served in the French Army during the Period 1789-1815. (Retrieved 2015, March 6) Antoine Gentili. Retrieved from http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/c_frenchgenerals.html


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