Show ContentsParigi History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Parigi

What does the name Parigi mean?

From the ancient and beautiful Italian island of Sicily emerged a variety of distinguished names, including the notable surname Parigi. 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 Parigi family lived in Sicily.

Early Origins of the Parigi family

The surname Parigi was first found in before the Norman invasion of the 10th and 11th centuries. Gualterio Parisio, who was Governor of Paris, France, arrived in Sicily with the Norman princes in 998.

Early History of the Parigi family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Parigi research. The years 1304, 1420, 1448, 1510, 1564, 1590, 1606 and 1656 are included under the topic Early Parigi History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Parigi 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 Parigi include Parigi, Parisi, Parise, Pariso, Parisio, Paris, Parissi, Parisse, Parigini, Parisini, Parisotti, Parisotto, Parisetti, Parisani, Parisato and many more.

Early Notables of the Parigi family

Prominent among bearers of this surname in early times was

  • at this time Ascanio Parisani was Bishop of Cajazzo, and then made Cardinal by Pope Paolo III. the Parigi family in Florence, from which came 14 priests between 1448 and 1510. Giulio Parisetti, a lawy...
  • the Parisi family in Sicily was recognized as nobility in 6 cities and owned 6 large territories, thus the title of Baron. Alfonso Parigi the Younger (1606-1656), an Italian architect and scenographer

Migration of the Parigi family

An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Parigi arrived in North America very early: Aantonio Parisi, aged 31, who arrived at Ellis Island from Palamonte, Italy, in 1913; Abramo Parisi, aged 7, who arrived at Ellis Island from Napoli, Italy, in 1913.


Contemporary Notables of the name Parigi (post 1700) +

  • Susanna Parigi (1961-2023), Italian singer, songwriter, pianist and author


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