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The distinguished surname Dante can be traced back to the ancient and beautiful region of Venice. Although people were originally known only by a single name, it became necessary for people to adopt a second name to identify themselves as populations grew and travel became more frequent. The process of adopting fixed hereditary surnames was not complete until the modern era, but the use of hereditary family names in Italy began in the 10th and 11th centuries. Italian hereditary surnames were developed according to fairly general principles and they were characterized by a profusion of derivatives coined from given names. The most common type of family name found in the region of Venice is the patronymic surname, which is derived 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. In Italy the popularity of patronymic type of surname is also due to the fact that during the Christian era, people often named their children after saints and biblical figures. The surname Dante came from the Latin word durants which means to endure, to persevere or to persist.
The surname Dante was first found in Mondovì, dating back to the 13th century with Giovanni and Giacomo Durando, were listed as military Generals of the time.
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dante research. The years 1544, 1672, 1684, 1695, 1718, 1720, 1721, 1723, 1742, 1752, 1755 and 1791 are included under the topic Early Dante 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 Dante include Durante, Duranti, Durando, Durantini, Dante, Danti, Dantini, Duranco, Durastanti, Durrante, Durrant, Duran, Durand and many more.
Prominent among members of the family was Francesco Durante, born at Fratta Maggiore in 1684, was a composer of church and chamber music, and became Head of the Conservatorio di Santa Maria di Loreto in Naples. Marghereta Durastanti, born in 1695, was an opera singer and at the height of her fame, was performing at the King's Theatre in London under Handel. Giuseppe-Francesco Durando was a banker in Piedmont who in 1752 was given the feudal...
Another 75 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dante Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Dante were among those contributors: