Debenedetti History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Italy

The distinguished surname Debenedetti 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. 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. During the Middle Ages, Italians adopted the patronymic system of name-making because it perfectly complemented the prevailing Feudal System. In Italy the popularity of patronymic type of surname is also due to the fact that during the Christian era, people often named their children after saints and biblical figures. The surname Debenedetti came from the first name "Benito," which is the Italian form of Benedict, which means blessed.

Early Origins of the Debenedetti family

The surname Debenedetti was first found in Ferrara, a city and comune in Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy, capital city of the Province of Ferrara. History dates the city back to 753. It was at war with Venice in 1471. It is a walled city and notable is the Church of S. Cristoforo. Knitted goods and shawls are made. In those ancient times only persons of rank, the podesta, clergy, city officials, army officers, artists, landowners were entered into the records. To be recorded at this time was in itself a family honor.

Early History of the Debenedetti family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Debenedetti research. Another 99 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1258, 1405, 1414, 1530, 1590, 1720 and 1819 are included under the topic Early Debenedetti History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Debenedetti Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Benzi, Benzo, Benza, Bensi, Penzo, Penza, Pensi, Penso, Benzizni, Benzani, Benzan and many more.

Early Notables of the Debenedetti family

Prominent among members of the family was Giovanni Battista Benedetti (1530-1590), an Italian mathematician and physicist, considered one of the forerunners of Galileo.Benedetti, was an Italian singer at the Opera in London, 1720. He is mentioned in a witty letter by Sir John Edgar in Steele's journal, 'The Theatre,' from Tuesday March 8 to Saturday...
Another 55 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Debenedetti Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Debenedetti family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Etienne Benet, who settled in Montreal in 1666; Edmund Benet, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1682; Nicolo Venditti, who came to Ashtabula Co., OH sometime between 1875 and 1906.

Contemporary Notables of the name Debenedetti (post 1700) +

Tommaso De Benedetti (b. 1969), Italian journalist and author
Leonardo de Benedetti (1898-1983), Italian Jew and physician who was interned in the Auschwitz concentration camp from February 1944 until its liberation in January 1945
Rodolfo De Benedetti (b. 1961), Italian entrepreneur and company executive, Chairman of the CIR Group (Compagnie Industriali Riunite)
Carlo De Benedetti (b. 1934), Italian industrialist, engineer and publisher
Giacomo Debenedetti (1901-1967), Italian journalist, literary critic and author of the short books
Salvador Santiago Lorenzo Debenedetti (1884-1930), Argentine archaeologist, anthropologist and educator, founder of Student's Day in Argentina, celebrated on September 21 each year