Cattaneo Surname: Origin and Coat of Arms
What does Cattaneo mean, and where does it come from? Here is a brief introduction.
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Origin of the Cattaneo name
Cattaneo comes from medieval Latin capitaneus, "captain". In Lombardy the cattanei were vassals who held land from a bishop or great lord, and the title became a family name. Cattaneo is typical of Lombardy and Liguria, especially around Milan, Como and Genoa.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Cattaneo name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Cattaneo name in Italy. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as Argentina, Switzerland and Brazil; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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Your full Cattaneo pack adds the researched history, early records and migration. Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Cattaneo coat of arms for you.
Cattaneo name FAQ
What does the Cattaneo name mean?
Captain, feudal vassal. Common variants include Cattani, Cattanei, Capitani.
Where does the Cattaneo surname come from?
It originates in Italy, and is also found in Argentina, Switzerland and Brazil.
Is there a Cattaneo coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Cattaneo crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Cattaneo coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: De Felice, Dizionario dei cognomi italiani; Caffarelli & Marcato, I cognomi d'Italia.