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The Agnelli surname is derived from the Italian word "agnello," which in turn comes from the Latin "agnellus," a diminutive of "agnus" meaning "lamb." Thus, this name may initially have been a nickname for an innocent, timid, meek or pious person. It was also a popular personal (first) name because of the Christian connotations of the Lamb of God. Agnello was the name of several saints such as St. Agnello of Naples, the sixth century St. Agnello, bishop of Ravenna, as well as St. Agnello of Pisa, companion of St. Francis. During the Middle Ages it was quite common for children to be named after saints in the hope of evoking the protection of the particular saint.
The surname Agnelli was first found in Pisa the original home of the family Agnelli di Mantova, who came to Pisa from Mantova in circa 1180.
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Agnelli research. Another 52 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1224, 1238, 1313, 1449, 1621, 1626, 1638, 1702 and 1706 are included under the topic Early Agnelli 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 Agnelli include Agnelli, Agnello, Agnella, Agnellotti, Agnelli, D'Agnello, D'Agnelli, Agnellini, Agnelletti and many more.
Prominent among bearers of this family in early times was
Early immigration records have shown some of the first Agnellis to arrive on North American shores: Cruciano Agnello, who arrived in New York on April. 24; 1893 aboard the "Iniziativa," Francesco Agnello, who arrived in New York in 1888 aboard the ".