The distinguished surname Vecchio originated in an area of Italy, known as the Papal States. Although people were originally known only by a single name, it became necessary for people to adapt 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 the Papal States is the
patronymic surname, which is derived from the father's given name, the
nickname type of surname is also frequently found.
Nickname surnames were derived from an eke-name, or added name. They usually reflected the physical characteristics or attributes of the first person that used the name. The surname Vecchio came from a person who was of aged appearance. The surname Vecchio is derived from the Italian word vecchi, which further derives from the late Latin word veclus, which mean old, aged, or elderly.
Early Origins of the Vecchio family
The surname Vecchio was first found in Rieti, a city on the borders of the Papal States.
Early History of the Vecchio family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Vecchio research. More information is included under the topic Early Vecchio History in all our
PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Vecchio Spelling Variations
There are many variations of most of those Italian names that originated in the medieval era. Some of these come from regional differences, like the tradition of ending northern names in "o" and southern names in "i". Others come from inaccuracies in the recording process, which were extremely common in the eras before dictionaries standardized spelling. Some of the
spelling variations of Vecchio are Vecchi, Della Vecchia, La Vecchia, Del Vecchio, De Vecchi, Lo Vecchio, Vecchia, Vecchiatini, Vecchione, Vecchiotti, Vec
China, Vecchiarini, Vecchiarelli, Vechietti, Vechiet, Vechione, Vecchiato, Vecchiuzzo and many more.
Early Notables of the Vecchio family (pre 1700)
Prominent among members of the family was Palma il Vecchio
(c. 1480-1528), born Jacopo Palma or known as Jacopo Negretti, an Italian painter of the Venetian school born at Serina Alta near Bergamo; Pietro della Vecchia, also sometimes known as Pietro Muttoni, (1603-1678), an Italian painter of the Baroque period; and...
Another 61 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Vecchio Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Vecchio family to the New World and Oceana
Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Vecchio or a variant listed above:
Vecchio Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
- Angelo Vecchio, aged 21, who emigrated to America from Licata, in 1903
- Alessandro Vecchio, aged 21, who landed in America from Postiglione, Italy, in 1904
- Angelo Vecchio, aged 0, who landed in America from Prignano, Italy, in 1906
- Carmelo Vecchio, aged 23, who emigrated to the United States from Toppolo, Italy, in 1907
- Carmine Vecchio, aged 28, who settled in America from Castelforte, Italy, in 1909
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Contemporary Notables of the name Vecchio (post 1700)
- Mary Ann Vecchio (b. 1955), American subject of a Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph by photojournalism student John Filo in the aftermath of the Kent State shootings on May 4, 1970
- Patrick R. Vecchio, American Democrat politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1984 [1]CITATION[CLOSE]
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 24) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html - John Vecchio, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from New York, 1960 [1]CITATION[CLOSE]
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 24) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html - Frank Del Vecchio, American Republican politician, Candidate for New York state comptroller, 1954; Justice of New York Supreme Court 5th District, 1958 [2]CITATION[CLOSE]
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 22) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html - Giorgio Del Vecchio (1878-1970), prominent Italian legal philosopher
- Palma Vecchio (1480-1528), Italian painter of the Venetian school
- Emanuele Del Vecchio (1934-1995), Brazilian football forward
- Guillermo Vecchio (b. 1961), Argentine basketball Head Coach for 4 different National Teams, including Argentina, Mexico, Venezuela and Panama
The Vecchio Motto
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Caesaris Sum
Motto Translation: I am Caesar