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From the historical and fascinating Italian region of Venice emerged a multitude of noble families, including the distinguished Marchese family. Although people were originally known only by a single name, it became necessary for people to adapt 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 are characterized by a profusion of derivatives coined from given names. Although 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, the nickname type of surname is also frequently found. Nickname surnames were derived from an eke-name, or added name. They usually reflected the physical characteristics or attributes of the first person that used the name. The surname Marchese came from a feudal lord. The surname Marchesi is derived from the medieval Latin word marca, which means the territory over which feudal lords reigned. At the end of the Middle Ages, the word marchese became a nobiliary title as Count or duke. The nickname marchese was later given also to people who worked for a marquis or were part of his routine. Also, people who played the role of a marquis in pageants and festivals could afterward acquire the nickname of marchese.
The surname Marchese was first found in Lombardy (Italian: Lombardia), with records from the 10th century showing that the Marchese family was of upper nobility in the region.
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Marchese research. Another 24 words (2 lines of text) covering the years 1475, 1494 and 1848 are included under the topic Early Marchese 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 Marchese include Marchesi, Marchese, Marchesich, Marchesini, Marcheselli, Marchesin, Marchesana, Marchisio, Marchesotti and many more.
Prominent among bearers of this family in early times was
In the United States, the name Marchese is the 6,215th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1
Early immigration records have shown some of the first Marcheses to arrive on North American shores: