Show ContentsCarnavali History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Carnavali

What does the name Carnavali mean?

From the ancient and beautiful Italian island of Sicily emerged a variety of distinguished names, including the notable surname Carnavali. 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. Although the most traditional type of family name found in the region of Sicily 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, and does not necessarily denote nobility.

Early Origins of the Carnavali family

The surname Carnavali was first found in Naples, (Italian: Napoli, Latin: Neapolis) where in the 1500's Andrea Carnevale was head judiciary under King Alfonso.

Early History of the Carnavali family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Carnavali research. The years 1420, 1484, 1524, 1770, 1780 and 1795 are included under the topic Early Carnavali History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Carnavali 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 Carnavali include Carnevali, Carnavali, Carnavale, Carnovali, Carnovale, Carlevari, Carlevaro, Carlevaris, Carleveri, Carlavara, Carnasciali, Carlassare, Carnevalini, Carlevarini and many more.

Early Notables of the Carnavali family

Prominent among bearers of this surname in early times was Fra Carnevale OP (c. 1420-1484), an Italian painter of the Quattrocento; Domenico Carnevale, a famous painter in Sassuolo born in 1524 who is buried in the main cathedral of Modena; Tiberio Carnevali was a vicar in Fossombrone and was eventually made...
Another 51 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Carnavali Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Carnavali migration to the United States +

An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Carnavali arrived in North America very early:

Carnavali Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Giacinto Carnavali, aged 2, who landed in America, in 1892
  • Giadette Carnavali, aged 12, who settled in America, in 1892
  • Luisa Carnavali, aged 8, who landed in America, in 1892
  • Raffaele Carnavali, aged 3, who settled in America, in 1892
Carnavali Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Pietro Carnavali, aged 39, who immigrated to the United States from Grosio Sondalo, Italy, in 1910
  • Francesco Carnavali, aged 40, who immigrated to the United States, in 1920


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