Zanella Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Zanella last name means, where the surname began and where it was first recorded.
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Meaning and origin of the Zanella last name
Meaning of the Zanella last name: little Gianni (John). Zanella comes from Zane, the Venetian form of Gianni, itself a short form of Giovanni, John. The ending -ella is a common diminutive in the dialects of the north-east, so the surname means "little John". It is concentrated in the Veneto, especially the provinces of Vicenza, Treviso and Padua, and in Friuli. Many Zanella families emigrated to southern Brazil in the late 19th century. In Venetian dialect, Giovanni became Zuane and Zane, and these forms produced many surnames, including Zanetti, Zanin, Zanon and Zanella. The diminutive ending could describe a child or a younger family member. The migration to southern Brazil, especially Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina, was part of the large Venetian emigration of the 1870s to the 1890s, and Zanella families also went to Argentina. The name is also found in Trentino and Lombardy.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Zanella name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Zanella name in Italy. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, Brazil and Argentina; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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Zanella name FAQ
What does the Zanella name mean?
Little Gianni (John). Common variants include Zanelli, Zanello, Zane.
Where does the Zanella surname come from?
It originates in Italy, and is also found in the United States, Brazil and Argentina.
Is there a Zanella coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Zanella crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Zanella 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.