Donadini History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Italy

The distinguished surname Donadini 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 Donadini family lived in the city of Assisi in 1160.

Early Origins of the Donadini family

The surname Donadini was first found in the region of Umbria, where earliest records show that a Donato lived in the city of Assisi in 1160 and was of the Guelph faction.

Early History of the Donadini family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Donadini research. The years 1458, 1509, 1580 and 1603 are included under the topic Early Donadini History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Donadini 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 Donadini include Donato, Donati, Dona, De Donato, De Dona, Di Donato, Donatelli, Donatello, Donatini, Donadini, Donatoni, Donadoni and many more.

Early Notables of the Donadini family

Prominent among members of the family was Corso Donati, involved in the Florentine government during the 13th century, who was considered to be one of the most popular and reformist politicians for 25 years. Simone Donati of Florence was an outspoken members of the Guelph faction in Florence at this time; Amerigo Donati was a soldier in Florence; Alamanno Donati, born in Florence in 1458, became a prominent poet; Clemente Donati was a publisher in Urbino during the 15th century; Tommaso...
Another 80 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Donadini Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Donadini family

Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Donadini or a variant listed above: Francas Donato, who arrived in New Orleans, Louisiana, at the age of 46; Achille DiDonato, aged 6, who arrived at Ellis Island from Barisciano, Italy, in 1914.

Contemporary Notables of the name Donadini (post 1700) +

Ulderiko Donadini (1894-1923), Croatian novelist, dramatist and short story writer