Show ContentsCanale History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Italian name Canale is derived from one of several places named Canale in northern Italy. The place name comes from the Italian word "canale," meaning "canal." 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, created from place names are also found. These local names, are derived from a place-name where the original bearer once resided or held land, and often bear the prefix "di," meaning "from."

Early Origins of the Canale family

The surname Canale was first found in the area around the city of Ferrara, where Tommaso Canali was a judge in the mid 12th century. One line of the Canale family originated in the Polcevera valley, northwest Italy, and was first mentioned in documents dating from the year 1100. Of this line, Emanuele Canale was a member of the faction that supported Paolo Da Novi in 1506. Otto Canella (d. before 1143) was Consul of Genoa in 1133 and is an ancestor of the House of Grimaldi, the family which to this day, rules Monaco.

Early History of the Canale family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Canale research. Another 63 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1275, 1322, 1470, 1505, 1610, 1697, 1725, 1730, 1768 and 1802 are included under the topic Early Canale History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Canale Spelling Variations

Italian surnames come in far more variations than the names of most other nationalities. Regional traditions and dialects are a decisive factor in this characteristic. For example, northern names tend to end in "o", while southern in "i". Also important, but not unique to Italy, was the fact that before dictionaries and the printing press most scribes simply spelled words according to their sounds. The predictable result was an enormous number of spelling variations. The recorded spellings of Canale include Canal, Canale, Canali, Da Canale, Da Canàl, Da Canal, Canaletto, Canalini, Canales and many more.

Early Notables of the Canale family

Prominent among members of the family was

  • Carlo Canale of Mantua was highly involved with the church in the 15th century
  • Bartolomeo Canale was the mayor of Massafiscaglia during the 15th century
  • Vittorio Canale was a military Captain of the troops at Foligno
  • Altobello Canale was a knight in Todi in 1470
  • his brother, Matteo Canale was Captain of the Ghibelline faction in the city
  • Nicola Canale was an admiral in the Venetian navy in the 15th century
  • Emanuele Canale was a popular politician in Genoa around 1505
  • Ludovico Canale was a soldier in the Papal army in Rieti during the 16th century
  • Bartolomeo Canale was a prominent philosopher and priest in Milan around 1610
  • Giovanni Antonio Canal (1697-1768) known as Canaletto, Italian painter
  • Luigi Girolamo Canale was a count in Turin around this time
  • Giuseppe Canale (1725-1802) was an artist in Rome in 1730 who specialized in etchings

Canale Ranking

In the United States, the name Canale is the 10,381st most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Canale is ranked the 6,412nd most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 2


United States Canale migration to the United States +

A search of the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Canale:

Canale Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Gusto Canale, who arrived in the city of Philadelphia in 1868
  • Gideome Canale, who arrived at New York on Nov. 26, 1884 aboard the "Wisconsin"
  • Carlotta Canale, age 17, who arrived at New York on May 1, 1885, aboard the "Gottardo"
  • Achille Canale, who arrived at New York on Dec. 13, 1887, aboard the "Chardernagor"

Contemporary Notables of the name Canale (post 1700) +

  • Giuseppe Canale (1725-1802), Italian painter and engraver
  • Gonzalo Canale (b. 1982), Argentine-born, Italian rugby union footballer
  • Gianna Maria Canale (b. 1927), Italian actress
  • Michele Giuseppe Canale (1808-1890), Italian historian, born in Genoa, professor at the University of Genoa


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/


Houseofnames.com on Facebook