Castelli History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
France
Italy

The distinguished surname Castelli originated in an area of Italy, known as the Papal States. 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 traditional type of family name found in the region of the Papal States 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 Castelli family lived at or near a "castle."

Early Origins of the Castelli family

The surname Castelli was first found in the year 1070, when Pantaleone Castelli was responsible for the construction of the bronze doors for the church of San Paolo.

Early History of the Castelli family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Castelli research. The years 1210, 1211, 1229, 1390, 1420, 1488, 1500, 1521, 1557, 1600, 1608, 1624, 1629, 1659, 1660 and 1672 are included under the topic Early Castelli History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Castelli Spelling Variations

Surnames that originated in Italy are characterized by an enormous number of spelling variations. Some of these are derived from regional traditions and dialects. Northern names, for instance, often end in "o", while southern names tend to end in "i". Other variations come from the fact the medieval scribes tended to spell according to the sound of words, rather than any particular set of rules. The recorded variations of Castelli include Castelli, Castello, Castella, Castiello, Castiglio, Del Castello, Del Castiglio, Castelletti, Castelletto, Castelletta, Castellini, Castellino, Castellucci, Casteluccio, Castelluzzi, Castelluzzo, Castellotti, Castellotto, Castellone, Castiglione, Castiglioni, Castioni, Castellacci, Castellaccio, Castellazzi, Castellazzo, Castellani, Castellano, Castellana, Castellàn, Castellaneta, Castellari, Castellaro, Castellarini, Castellarìn, Castelfranco, Castelfranchi, Castelnovo, Castelnuovo, Castelnovi, Castelvecchio, Castelvecchi, Castelvetro and many more.

Early Notables of the Castelli family

Prominent among members of the family was

Alberto Castellani was mayor of Cerea in 1210, 1211, and again in 1229; Pierozzo Castellani was a priest in 1390; Luca Castellano was a priest in 1420; Agostino Castelli of Brescia was a military engi...
Bernardo Castello or Castelli (1557-1629), was an Italian painter of the late-Mannerist style, father of Valerio Castello; Valerio Castello (1624-1659), an Italian painter of the Baroque period, son o...

Castelli Ranking

In the United States, the name Castelli is the 10,115^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Castelli is ranked the 2,402^nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,500 - 3,000 people with that name. 2

Castelli migration to the United States +

Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Castelli or a variant listed above:

Castelli Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Mr. Joseph Castelli, aged 28, German settler who arrived in New York in 1893 aboard the ship "La Bourgogne" 3
Mrs. Elisa Castelli, aged 33, German settler who arrived in New York in 1893 aboard the ship "La Bourgogne" 4

Castelli Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Agoztini Castelli, aged 16, who immigrated to America from Vertinitti, in 1902
Albina Castelli, aged 25, who landed in America from Ansonia, Italy, in 1904
Alessandro Castelli, aged 24, who immigrated to the United States from Cerignale, Italy, in 1907
Adamo Castelli, aged 24, who landed in America from Mouterado, Italy, in 1909
A. Caterina Castelli, aged 21, who landed in America from Cerignole, Italy, in 1910
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Castelli migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Castelli Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mary Castelli, aged 16, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alumbagh" in 1875 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Castelli (post 1700) +

Leo Castelli (1907-1999), born Leo Krausz, American art dealer
Claudia Castelli, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Ohio, 2004 6
Alfredo Castelli (1947-2024), Italian comic book artist and writer
Roberto Castelli (b. 1946), Italian politician, former Italian Minister of Justice
David Castelli (1836-1901), Italian scholar and educator in the field of secular Jewish studies
Juan José Castelli (1764-1812), Argentine lawyer, member of the first national government of Argentina
Ignaz Franz Castelli (1780-1862), Austrian dramatist

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
Germans to America retrieved 21st October 2021. Retrieved from Glazier, Ira. A., and Filby, P. William. Germans to America: Lists of Passengers Arriving at U.S. Ports. Vol. 62, Scholarly Resources Inc, 2066
Germans to America retrieved 21st October 2021. Retrieved from Glazier, Ira. A., and Filby, P. William. Germans to America: Lists of Passengers Arriving at U.S. Ports. Vol. 62, Scholarly Resources Inc, 2067
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html