Show ContentsFantoni History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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 Fantoni. 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 Fantoni 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 Fantoni family

The surname Fantoni 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 Fantoni family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fantoni research. The years 1434, 1435, 1620, 1659, 1677, 1688, 1734 and 1759 are included under the topic Early Fantoni History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fantoni Spelling Variations

Enormous variation in spelling and form characterizes those Italian names that originated in the medieval era. This is caused by two main factors: regional tradition, and inaccuracies in the recording process. Before the last few hundred years, scribes spelled names according to their sounds. Spelling variations were the unsurprising result. The variations of Fantoni 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 Fantoni family

Prominent among members of the family was

  • 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...

Migration of the Fantoni family

In the immigration and passenger lists were a number of people bearing the name Fantoni 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 Fantoni (post 1700) +

  • Sergio Fantoni (1930-2020), Italian actor, voice actor and director


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