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.
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.
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Di mari research. Another 146 words (10 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.
Spelling variations of this family name include: Maria, De Maria, Demaria, Di Maria, Mari and others.
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...
Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Di mari Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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.