Castelli Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Castelli last name means, where the surname began and where it was first recorded.
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Meaning and origin of the Castelli last name
Meaning of the Castelli last name: dweller by a castle. Castelli is the plural of castello, "castle", and was a name for someone who lived in or near a castle, served a castle household, or came from one of many villages called Castello. The plural -i form is typical of Lombardy, Emilia and the Marche. Italy's medieval landscape was full of fortified villages and small castles, so the name arose in many places independently. It is most common in Milan, Bergamo and Rome. Castello comes from Latin castellum, "fort, small castle", and gave a great many place names, such as Castelnuovo, Castelfranco and Castellamonte. The singular Castello is more common in the south and in Liguria. The diminutive Castellini and the related Castellani are also widespread. Castelli families emigrated to Argentina, France, Switzerland and the United States.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Castelli name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Castelli name in Italy. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as Argentina, the United States and France; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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Castelli name FAQ
What does the Castelli name mean?
Dweller by a castle. Common variants include Castello, Castellani, Castellini.
Where does the Castelli surname come from?
It originates in Italy, and is also found in Argentina, the United States and France.
Is there a Castelli coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Castelli crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Castelli 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.