Show ContentsGherardini History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

A variety of distinguished and notable names have emerged from the beautiful and historical Italian region of Tuscany, including the notable surname Gherardini. During the Middle Ages, as populations grew and travel between regions became more frequent, the people of Tuscany, who were originally known only by a single name, found it necessary to adopt a second name to identify themselves and their families. This process of adopting fixed hereditary surnames in Italy began in the 10th and 11th centuries, but it was not completed until the modern era. The development of Italian hereditary surnames followed general principles and were characterized by derivatives from one's given name. The patronymic surname, which is derived from the father's given name, was one of the most common name types found in the region of Tuscany. This system of name-making was widely used because it linked well with the existing Feudal System and during the Christian era, many people named their children after saints and biblical figures. The surname Gherardini came from the personal name Gerard, which was itself derived from the Old German Gerhard, which means spear-brave.

Early Origins of the Gherardini family

The surname Gherardini was first found in Tuscany (Italian: Toscana), a region in central Italy, in the northern area of the Garfagnana. Records can be found as early as 970, with the Gherardinghi family who owned the castles of Verrucola, Bibbiano, Bogli, San Romano, and Sommacologna.

Early History of the Gherardini family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gherardini research. The years 1358, 1367, 1440, 1638 and 1702 are included under the topic Early Gherardini History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gherardini 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 Gherardini are Gherardi, Gherardo, Gherardis, Ghirardi, Ghirardo, Gherlardi, Ghelardo, Ghilardi, Gerardi, Gheraldi, Ghiraldi, Ghiroldi, Geraldi, Geraldo, Geroldi, Giraldi, Giraldo, Ciraldo, Giraudo, Giraud, Girod, Giroldi, Gherardelli, Gherardini, Gherardinghi, Gerardini, Gerardello, Gherarducci, Gherardeschi, Della Gherardesca, Ghirardelli, Ghilardini, Ghelardini, Girardini, Girardin, Girardoni, Girardone, Girardengo, Geraldini and many more.

Early Notables of the Gherardini family

Prominent among members of the family was Ugolino Della Gherardesca, a Pisan Ghibelline leader during the 13th century. The Gherardesca family of Pisa was one of the most powerful and respected families in the city at this time. Of this family was Pietro Gherardesca, Cardinal of Pisa with the title of San Susanna; also of this family was Ugolino Gherardesca, who was written about by Dante Alighieri. Guelfo Gerardini was head of the Guelph faction in Florence in 1358...
Another 79 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Gherardini Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Gherardini migration to the United States +

The records on immigrants and ships' passengers show a number of people bearing the name Gherardini:

Gherardini Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Desolina Gherardini, aged 15, who landed in America from Fanano, in 1903
  • Federico Gherardini, aged 33, who immigrated to the United States from Sestola, in 1906
  • Angiolo Gherardini, aged 20, who immigrated to America from Lambuca, Italy, in 1908
  • Agostino Gherardini, aged 38, who immigrated to the United States from Firenzo, Italy, in 1909
  • Alessio Gherardini, aged 22, who immigrated to the United States from Sambuca, Italy, in 1910
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Gherardini (post 1700) +

  • Lisa Gherardini (1479-1542), Italian woman depicted in Da Vinci's Mona Lisa painting
  • Maurizio "Mo" Gherardini (b. 1955), Italian sportsman, vice president and an assistant general manager for the Toronto Raptors
  • Alessandro Gherardini (1655-1723), Italian painter of the Baroque period


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