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The surname Abbate was first found in Modena (Etruscan: Mutna; Latin: Mutina; Modenese: Mòdna). In those ancient times only persons of rank, the podesta, clergy, city officials, army officers, artists, landowners were entered into the records. To be recorded at this time was in itself a family honor.
The name may have come from the Italian word Abate, which was the name given to the head of the monks of a monastery. In this case, the word is used here in a figurative sense, to refer to the head of a feast or the person who conducts a ball. Saint Adamo Abate (c. 990-1060) was an Italian medieval Benedictine abbot, a promoter of the unification of the Southern populations in Italy under Roger II of Sicily.
The name Abbate originated in Milano and relocated to Messina, where they were endowed with the title of barons of Ucria and Marquis of Longarini. Sant'Alberto Frate Carmelitano (Saint Albert of the Carmelites Friars), belonged to this family. The family from Florence deserve particular mention, as one of the oldest and best established families of Italy. The poet Dante mentioned one Bocca degli Abati in the XXXII canto of the Inferno.
One branch was found in Messina. They held the titles of Barons of Ucria, March and Longarini and originally came from Milan and spread all over Italy, with some lines in Messina, Catania and Monte San Giuliano.
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Abbate research. Another 121 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1509, 1520, 1571, 1640, 1667, 1684 and 1715 are included under the topic Early Abbate History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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 Abbate include Abbati, Abati, Abeyti, Abeyta, Abbeyti, Abbiati, Abbate and many more.
Prominent among members of the family was
In the United States, the name Abbate is the 7,560th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1
A look at the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Abbate: