Furlani History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsEtymology of FurlaniWhat does the name Furlani mean? From the ancient and picturesque Italian region of Venice emerged a variety of distinguished names, including the notable surname Furlani. 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 traditional type of family name found in the region of Venice 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 Furlani family lived in Friuli, in the northeast of Italy. Early Origins of the Furlani familyThe surname Furlani was first found in the town of Sabbionetta, where records show Vitaliano Furlani was a military Captain under Pope Clemente VII. It was at this time, during the early 1500's, that Vitaliano and his family moved to the larger city of Ferrara. Early History of the Furlani familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Furlani research. The years 1738 and 1810 are included under the topic Early Furlani History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Furlani Spelling VariationsItalian 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 Furlani include Furlani, Forlani, Furlano, Forlano, Furlan, Forlan, Furlanis, Furlanich, Furlanetti, Furlanetto, Furletti, Furlotti and many more. Early Notables of the Furlani familyProminent among members of the family was
Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Furlani or a variant listed above: Furlani Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
Furlani Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
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