The name is Biblical in origin, coming from the Virgin Mary. The fact that the prefixes "De" and "Di" are often added to it suggest that it could be metronymic, that is, a surname originally derived from the name of the first bearer's mother, and meaning "son of Maria." This is rare in Italian names, generally such names were taken from the name of the father (patronymics). In some cases the children of widows or the illegitimate children of noblemen's mistresses took the mother's name for their surname.
Early Origins of the Di mari family
The surname Di mari was first found in Genoa (Italian: Genova), and elsewhere throughout Italy. As surnames began to come in to usage in Italy, this name emerged independently in different parts of the peninsula.
Early History of the Di mari family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Di mari research.
Another 291 words (21 lines of text) covering the years 1665, 1669, 1654, 1450, 1503, 1489, 1623, 1690, 1609 and 1669 are included under the topic Early Di mari History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Di mari Spelling Variations
Spelling variations of this family name include: Maria, De Maria, Demaria, Di Maria, Mari and others.
Early Notables of the Di mari family (pre 1700)
Prominent among bearers of this family in early times was Lorenzo Cybo de Mari (c.1450-1503), an Italian Catholic cardinal, Archbishop of Benevento, was made cardinal in 1489; Francesco di Maria...
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Migration of the Di mari family to the New World and Oceana
Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Antonio Dimare and Carmine Dimari, who both arrived at the port of New York in 1882, aboard the "Washington" from Palermo; Micheisant Di Maria, who arrived in New York, NY in 1893.
Contemporary Notables of the name Di mari (post 1700)
- J DiMari, medical researcher at the University of Texas