Balli History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Germany
• Italy

Etymology of Balli

From the historical and fascinating Italian region of Venice emerged a multitude of noble families, including the distinguished Balli 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 Balli came from a person who was nicknamed a "rascal" deriving its origin from the Italian word balosso.

Early Origins of the Balli family

Early History of the Balli family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Balli research. The years 1278, 1301, 1398, 1403, 1469, 1535, 1567, 1794 and 1802 are included under the topic Early Balli History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Balli Spelling Variations

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 Balli include Balli, Ballo, Balla, Balletti, Balletto, Ballini, Ballotti, Balloni, Ballone, Ballon, Ballandi, Ballanti, Ballante, Ballantini, Balleri, Ballero, Ballerini, Ballerino, Ballarini, Ballarin, Ballaro, Ballatore, Balladore, Ballacchi, Ballada, Ballai, Ballardi, Bellarini, Ballaroto, Ballonio, Ballotta and many more.

Early Notables of the Balli family

Prominent among bearers of this family in early times was

• in 1403 Giacomo and Agostino Balliani were councillors of Casale
• Francesco and Giacomo Balliani were made counts in 1469 and their ancestor Antonio Balliani later took the title in 1535
• Antonio Balli was a fiscal lawyer in Trapani in the 16th century
• Camillo Ballini was a painter in Brescia in 1567 whose works, now on display in Venice, include frescoes in the Palazzo Barbarigo on the Canal Grande
• Tommaso Balli, born in the 16th century in Palermo, was a nobleman, knight, and a talented poet