Palermo History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsFrom the ancient and beautiful Italian island of Sicily emerged a variety of distinguished names, including the notable surname Palermo. 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 were characterized by a profusion of derivatives coined from given names. Although the most traditional type of family name found in the region of Sicily 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, and does not necessarily denote nobility. The Palermo family lived in the city of Palermo, in northwest Sicily. Early Origins of the Palermo familyThe surname Palermo was first found in Palermo (Sicilian: Palermu, Latin: Panormus), a city in Insular Italy, the capital of both the region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. In those ancient times only persons of rank, the podesta, clergy, city officials, army officers, artists, landowners were entered into the records. To be recorded at this time, at the beginning of recorded history, was of itself a great distinction and indicative of noble ancestry. The name first appeared in Sicily about the 12th century. Early History of the Palermo familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Palermo research. Another 171 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1609 and 1806 are included under the topic Early Palermo History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Palermo Spelling VariationsSpelling variations of this family name include: Palermo, Palarmo, Palermoe, Palermow, Palerma and many more. Early Notables of the Palermo familyProminent among bearers of this surname in early times was
Palermo RankingIn the United States, the name Palermo is the 5,772nd most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Palermo Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
Palermo Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
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