| ![Show Contents]() Fant History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Italy Venice, one of the oldest and most beautiful island regions of Italy, is the esteemed birthplace of numerous prominent families, including the family that bears the surname Fant. Although people were originally known only by a single name, it became necessary for people to adopt 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 common type of family name found in Venice is the patronymic surname, which is derived from the father's given name, names derived from occupations are also found. Occupational surnames, which are less common than other types of surnames in Italy, date back to the feudal era. However, under the Feudal System, occupational names did not become hereditary until the offices themselves became hereditary. It was only after an occupation was inherited by several generations in lineal descent that occupational names came to be applied to entire families, and so became a hereditary surname. The surname Fant is a common occupational name for a person who was a "foot soldier." The earliest origins of this surname have been traced to Bologna, one of the more prosperous cities at this early time. The Fantuzzi family, who moved to the city in 1231, were immediately recognized as nobility and were given seats in the Senate. Early Origins of the Fant familyThe surname Fant was first found in Bologna (Latin: Bononia), one of the more prosperous cities at this early time. In 1231 the Fantuzzi family moved to the city and were immediately recognized as nobility and were given seats in the Senate. Early History of the Fant familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fant research. The years 1434, 1435, 1620, 1659, 1677, 1688, 1734 and 1759 are included under the topic Early Fant History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Fant Spelling VariationsIn comparison with other European surnames, Italian surnames have a surprising number of forms. They reflect the regional variations and the many dialects of the Italian language, each with its own distinctive features. For example, in Northern Italy the typical Italian surname suffix is "i", whereas in Southern Italy it is "o". Additionally, spelling changes frequently occurred because medieval scribes and church officials often spelled names as they sounded rather than according to any specific spelling rules. The spelling variations in the name Fant include Fanti, Fante, Fant, Fancelli, Fanceto, Fanfani, Fancello, Fancella, Fancel, Del Fante, De Fant, Fantini, Fantino, Fantin, Fantinelli, Fantinato, Fantoli, Fantolini, Fantucci, Fantuzzi, Fantuzzo, Fantuz, Fantus, Fantocci, Fantozzi, Fantoni, Fanton, and Fantacci, Fantazzi and many more. Early Notables of the Fant familyProminent among members of the family was - Francesco Fanti, mayor of Finale in 1434. In 1435, he assumed the position in Sassuolo. Sigismondo Fanti was an astronomer and famous writer from Ferrara. The Fantini family of Pinerolo owned the feud...
- Marc'Antonio Fantuzzi was a waiter for Pope Gregorio XIII. Cosimo Fancelli (c.1620-1688), was an Italian sculptor of the Baroque period, active in Rome. Andrea Fantoni (1659-1734) was an Italian sculp...
- Francesco-Gaetano Fantuzzi was made Cardinal by Pope Clemente XII in 1759
Fant RankingIn the United States, the name Fant is the 6,127th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. [1] Migration of the Fant familyA look at the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Fant: Adelino Fanti, aged 25, who arrived at Ellis Island from Pistoria, Italy in 1914; Albino Fanti, aged 30, who arrived at Ellis Island from Valpago Treviso in 1906.
| Contemporary Notables of the name Fant (post 1700) | + |
- Kenne Fant (1923-2016), Swedish actor, director and writer
- Mary Fant Donnan (b. 1962), American Democratic nominee for North Carolina Commissioner of Labor in the 2008
| Historic Events for the Fant family | + |
- Mr. Mikael Fant (2014-1914), Finnish Third Class Passenger from Helsingfors,, Finland who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking [2]
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