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From the ancient and picturesque Italian region of Venice emerged a variety of distinguished names, including the notable surname Mele. 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 are characterized by a profusion of derivatives coined from given names. Although the most traditional type of family name found in the region of Venice is the patronymic surname, which is derived from the father's given name, local surnames are also found. Local names, which are the least frequent of the major types of surnames found in Italy, are derived from a place-name where the original bearer once resided or held land. Often Italian local surnames bore the prefix "di," which signifies emigration from one place to another, but does not necessarily denote nobility. The Mele family lived at Mele, a town in the district of Genoa in northern Italy. However, the name coul have been a nickname based on the Italian word miele, which literally means honey.
The surname Mele was first found in Parma, one of the more prosperous cities at this early time. Research reveals that the Meli family lived in Parma during the early 1400's.
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mele research. The years 1570 and 1579 are included under the topic Early Mele 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 Mele include Mele, Meleguli, Melediri, Melii, and Meli and others.
Prominent among members of the family was
In the United States, the name Mele is the 8,905th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Mele is ranked the 6,342nd most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 2
A look at the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Mele: