Michele Cole talks about starting her research with her Italian grandmother and branching out to her Danish roots from her grandfather. Visit Our Shop Podcast Click here to purchase my new book Farmers and Nobles Click here to join our group on Facebook Video

Number 10 Italian Surname Bruno Join Italian Roots and Genealogy on Facebook Click here to purchase a copy of my story I didn’t have any of the first 9 surnames in my family, but have some Bruno’s going back to Bari in my family tree. The Italian Bruno surname has a few possible sources. It is a patronymicname created from the originally Germanic personal name Bruno. It evolved as a nicknamefrom the Italian word “bruno,” meaning “brown,” referring to the hair color or perhaps complexion. It may also have evolved as a habitational name from a place name, such as Bruno, in Asti province. Early Origins of the Bruno family The surname Bruno was first found in Florence (Italian: Firenze), originally the capital of Tuscany, then capital of the kingdom of Italy. The Bruno or Bruni family were originally from Arezzo but this part of their early history is not traceable. The Brunelli family are on record in Venicefrom 1151. During the 11th and 12th centuries the family branched from Florence south to Norman dominated Sicilywhere Giovanni di Bruno held a castle in Palermo in 1282. Early History of the Bruno family This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bruno research. Another 229 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1360, 1444, 1467, 1493, 1548, 1600, 1580, 1370, 1444, 1600, 1600, 1666, 1577, 1630, 1681, 1710 and 1649 are included under the topic Early Bruno History in all our PDF Extended History productsand printed products wherever possible. Bruno Spelling Variations Spelling variationsof this family name include: Bruno, Bruni, di Bruno, di Bruni, Bruni, Bruno, Bruna, Brun, Brunèlli, Brunelli, Brunèllo, Brunello, Brunèlla, Brunella, Brunellèschi, Brunelleschi, Brunètti, Brunetti, Brunetto, Brunètto, Brunini, Bruntti, Brunotti, Brunne, Brunone, Brunacci, Brunazzi, Brunaldi, Brunati, Brunato, Brunatti, Brunèngo, Brunengo, Brunèri, Bruneri, Brunèro, Brunaccini, Brunamonti, Brunero, Brunèse, Brunese, Brunod, Brunri and many more. Early Notables of the Bruno family (pre 1700) Prominent among members of the family was Leonardo Bruni (or Leonardo Aretino) (c.1370-1444), an Italian humanist, historian and statesman; often called the first modern historian; Antonio Bruni of Manduria was a famous poet around 1600; Domenico Bruni (c.1600-1666), an Italian painter of the Baroque period; the Brunelli family in… Another 122 words (9 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bruno Notables in all our PDF Extended History productsand printed products wherever possible. From www.houseofnames.com Recorded in many spellings from Brown, Broune, and De Bruyn, to Brauner, Bruni and Brunet, this ancient and prolific surname derives, from a pre 7th century Germanic and Anglo-Saxon word “brun” or the Olde Norse personal name “Bruni”. Originally this name would probably have been a nationlistic or tribal nickname for a person with a brown complexion or hair, although it may also have referred to someone who habitually wore brown clothing, such as a monk or cleric. The baptismal name as Brun or the latinized Brunus, was a popular name in the period upto the introduction of surnames in the 12th century, see below. Irish name holders derive from 12th century Norman sources. In the west the Browne’s are the descendants of a knight called ” Hugo le Brun”, amd form one of the ancient “Tribes of Galway”, as recorded in the “Annals of the nine kings”. The Browne’s of Killarney form a separate branch and are descended from a later Elizabethan settler. Amongst the early surname recordings are those of Hugh Bron of Stafford, England, in the year 1274, and Hugo Brun of Erfurt, Germany, in 1407. Christopher Browne is recorded as being one of the very first settlers in the new American colonies. In the very first listing of the colonists of New England he is shown to be “living in Virginea, on February 16th 1623”.The first recorded spelling of the family name anywhere in the world is probably that of William le Brun, which was dated 1169, in the Pipe Rolls of the county of Northumberland, England. This was during the reign of King Henry 11, known as “The church builder”, 1154 – 1189. From Surname Database Notable historical names Bruno, Duke of Saxony(died 880) Saint Bruno I, Archbishop of Cologne(died 965) Pope Gregory V(c. 972–999) whose given name was Bruno of Carinthia Saint Bruno of Querfurt(died 1009) Bishop Bruno of Augsburg(died 1029) Saint Bruno, Bishop of Würzburg(died 1045) Pope Leo IX(1002–1054) whose given name was Bruno, Count of Dagsbourg Bruno II(1024–1057) Bruno the Saxon(fl. 2nd half of the 11th century), historian Bruno of Cologne(d. 1101), founder of the Carthusians Saint Bruno, Bishop of Segni(died 1123) Giordano Bruno(1548–1600) Italian mathematician and philosopher Henri Reynders (Dom Bruno)(1903–1981), Catholic priest From Wikipedia Bruno Stemma   First 9 Italian Surnames #1 Russo #2 Ferrari #3 Esposito #4 Bianchi #5 Romano #6 Columbo #7 Ricci #8 Marino # 9 Greco Bruno Links Bruno Link from Forbears Bruno di Tornaforte Link from Libro d’Oro Counts of Samone Bruno Link from igenea.  They have a research project for Marino. Members: 5 Description: The Bruno DNA Project has been organized for all who wish to work together to find their common heritage through DNA testing and sharing of information. All variant spellings are welcome. If your Surname spelling is missing, we’ll be glad to add it. Please visit our website and add your family to the Patriarch Page. Requirements: A Surname Project traces members of a family that share a common surname. They are of the most interest in cultures where surnames are passed on from father to son like the Y-Chromosome. This project is for males taking a Y-Chromosome DNA (Y-DNA) test. Thus, the individual who tests must be a male who wants to check his direct paternal line (father’s father’s father’s…) with a Y-DNA12, Y-DNA37, Y-DNA67, or Y-DNA111 test and who has one of the surnames listed for the project. Females do not carry their father’s Y-DNA. Females who would like to check their father’s direct paternal line can have a male relative with his surname order a Y-DNA test. Females can also order an mtDNA test for themselves such as the mtDNAPlus test or the mtFullSequence test and participate in an mtDNA project. Both men and women may take our autosomal Family Finder test to discover recent relationships across all family lines.

Number 9 Italian Surname Greco I know a lot of Greco’s, and since many of us have at least a little Greek DNA, it makes sense that it’s in the top 10.  My favorite Greco was Mr. Greco that lived around the block from me.  He had a pie delivery business and would always leave his truck unlocked with a couple of pies in it for the kids to appropriate over night in the summertime! From Wikipedia Greco(Italian pronunciation: [ˈɡrɛːko]) is a common Italiansurname, ranking 9th among the most widespread surnames in Italy,[1]and it literally means “Greek“. Historically, its popularity is due to the frequent relationships between Italyand Greece: in particular, it spread within the Grikocommunities of Southern Italyand the Arbëreshëminority emigrated from the Balkanssince the 15th century. Variants of the surname include Del Greco, Della Greca, Greci, Grego, Grieco, La Greca, Lagreca, Lo Greco, Logreco, Logrieco, Grech, Grecco, etc. Scroll down for links to the top 8. From House of Names A variety of distinguished and notable names have emerged from the beautiful and historical Italian region of Tuscany, including the notable surname Greco. During the Middle Ages, as populations grew and travel between regions became more frequent, the people of Tuscany, who were originally known only by a single name, found it necessary to adopt a second name to identify themselves and their families. This process of adopting fixed hereditary surnamesin Italy began in the 10th and 11th centuries, but it was not completed until the modern era. The development of Italian hereditary surnames followed general principles and were characterized by derivatives from one’s given name. The patronymicsurname, which is derived from the father’s given name, was one of the most common name types found in the region of Tuscany. This system of name-making was widely used because it linked well with the existing FeudalSystem and during the Christian era, many people named their children after saints and biblical figures. The surname Greco came from the Italian personal nameGreca, which is derived from the Latin word graecus, which means greek. Alternatively, the surname is of a nicknameorigin that was given to one who came from Greece. At present, the name can be found all over the Italian peninsula, but it is most prevalent in the region of Campania.   Early Origins of the Greco family The surname Greco was first found in Florence (Italian: Firenze), where the main branch of the family originates. Records are found in 1258 with Alberto dei Greci, who left the Ghibeline faction in Florence and moved to Bologna, where he became mayor. Early History of the Greco family  This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Greco research. More information is included under the topic Early Greco History in all our PDF Extended History productsand printed products wherever possible.  Greco Spelling Variations  In comparison with other European surnames, Italian surnames have a surprising number of forms. They reflect the regional variations and the many dialects of the Italian language, each with its own distinctive features. For example, in Northern Italy the typical Italian surname suffix is “i”, whereas in Southern Italy it is “o”. Additionally, spelling changes frequently occurred because medieval scribes and church officials often spelled names as they sounded rather than according to any specific spelling rules. The spelling variationsin the name Greco include Greco, Grechi, Greci, Greca, Grieco, Grego, Greghi, Del Greco, De Graecis, Lo Greco, Li Greci, La Greca and many more.  Click here to purchase Farmers and Nobles Click here to join Italian Roots and Genealogy on Facebook Geographical distribution  As of 2014, 62.6% of all known bearers of the surname Greco were residents of Italy(frequency 1:715), 17.7% of the United States(1:14,906), 6.1% of Argentina(1:5,090), 4.2% of Brazil(1:35,328), 2.4% of Canada(1:11,050) and 2.0% of France(1:24,844). In Italy, the frequency of the surname was higher than national average (1:715) in the following regions: 1. Calabria(1:155) 2. Apulia(1:198) 3. Sicily(1:282) 4. Molise(1:377) In Argentina, the frequency of the surname was higher than national average (1:5,090) in the following provinces:[2] 1. Buenos Aires(1:2,234) 2. Tierra del Fuego Province(1:2,603) 3. Buenos Aires Province(1:3,163) 4. Santa Fe Province(1:4,827) List of persons with the surname Buddy Greco(1926–2017), American singer and pianist Daniele Greco(born 1989), Italian triple jump athlete Daniele Greco (footballer)(born 1988), Italian footballer Dick A. Greco(born 1933), American mayor of Tampa, Florida Eric Greco, American bridge player Francesco Greco(1942–2018), Italian lawyer and politician Gaetano Greco(c. 1657 – c. 1728), Italian Baroque composer Gioachino Greco(c. 1600 – c. 1634), Italian chess player and writer Giuseppe Greco(1952–1985), Italian member of the Sicilian Mafia James J. Greco(born 1958), American businessman and entrepreneur Jim Greco(born 1977), American skateboarder Joey Greco(born 1972), American television producer José Greco(1918–2000), American flamenco dancer and choreographer Juliette Gréco(born 1927), French chanson singer and actress Leandro Greco(born 1986), Italian footballer Marco Greco(born 1963), Brazilian motorcycle racer Michael Greco (disambiguation), several persons Michele Greco(1924–2008), Italian member of the Sicilian Mafia Salvatore Greco (disambiguation), several persons Suzanne Greco(born 1957/58), American businesswoman, president and CEO of Subwayfast food chain Greco Links Greco Link from Ancestry Greco Link from Forbears   #1 Russo #2 Ferrari #3 Esposito #4 Bianchi #5 Romano #6 Columbo #7 Ricci #8 Marino

Number 8 Italian Surname Marino It’s no surprise that Marino is in the top 10 as Italy is surrounded by water.  One would have thought it would be further up the list, it might well be if you include the many variations.  The Marino name is mentioned in the Nobility of Naples and Libro d’Oro, see links  below. The distinguished surname Marino 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 surnameswas 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. The most traditional type of family name found in the region of the Papal States is the patronymicsurname, which is derived from the father’s given name. During the Middle Ages, Italians adopted the patronymic system of name-making because it perfectly complemented the prevailing FeudalSystem. In Italy the popularity of patronymic type of surname is also due to the fact that during the Christian era, people often named their children after saints and biblical figures. The surname Marino came from the name Marino, which is further derived from the Latin Marinus, which means of the sea. During the Middle Ages, parents frequently named their children after saints in the hopes of obtaining the grace and protection of the invoked saint for the child. The name Marino became popular because of devotion to several saints, including Saint Marino the Bishop of Rimini and Saint Marino who, according to tradition, founded the first Christian community on Mount Titano and from whom the Republic of San Marino takes its name. Alternatively, the surname Marini is of localorigin, derived from the place named Marino, which is situated near Rome. Early Origins of the Marino family The surname Marino was first found in Orvieto, a small city which lies southwest of Perugia, where Ugolino Marini was consul for the town in 1068. Early History of the Marino family This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Marino research. Another 151 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1251, 1414, 1528, 1571, 1653, 1627, 1715, 1569, 1625, 1605 and 1608 are included under the topic Early Marino History in all our PDF Extended History productsand printed products wherever possible. Marino Spelling Variations In comparison with other European surnames, Italian surnames have a surprising number of forms. They reflect the regional variations and the many dialects of the Italian language, each with its own distinctive features. For example, in Northern Italy the typical Italian surname suffix is “i”, whereas in Southern Italy it is “o”. Additionally, spelling changes frequently occurred because medieval scribes and church officials often spelled names as they sounded rather than according to any specific spelling rules. The spelling variationsin the name Marino include DeMarini, DeMarinis, LaMarina, Marinacci, Marinaccio, Marinato, Marinazzo, Marinella, Marin, Marinetti, Marini, Mariniello, Marino, Marinolli, Marinoni, Marinotti, Marinotto, Marinucci, Marinuzzi and many more. From www.houseofnames.com Join Italian Roots and Genealogy on Facebook Click here to purchase your copy of my story Geographical distribution As of 2014, 44.8% of all known bearers of the surname Marinowere residents of Italy(frequency 1:718), 22.1% of the United States(1:8,584), 6.4% of Argentina(1:3,490), 3.5% of Brazil(1:30,415), 3.2% of Cuba(1:1,908), 3.0% of the Philippines(1:17,883), 2.8% of Mozambique(1:5,167), 2.2% of Mexico(1:30,089), 1.5% of France(1:23,643), 1.1% of Australia(1:11,857) and 1.0% of Canada(1:18,803). In Italy, the frequency of the surname was higher than national average (1:718) in the following regions: 1. Calabria(1:211) 2. Sicily(1:216) 3. Campania(1:315) 4. Basilicata(1:384) 5. Molise(1:689) In Cuba, the frequency of the surname was higher than national average (1:1,908) in the following provinces: 1. Las Tunas Province(1:551) 2. Holguín Province(1:669) 3. Santiago de Cuba Province(1:926) 4. Isla de la Juventud(1:1,135) 5. Guantánamo Province(1:1,319) In Argentina, the frequency of the surname was higher than national average (1:3,490) in the following provinces:[2] 1. Buenos Aires(1:1,777) 2. Buenos Aires Province(1:2,339) 3. Formosa Province(1:2,843) List of persons with surname Dan Marino(born 1961), American football player Eugene Antonio Marino(1934–2000), African American archbishop Frank Marino(born 1954), Canadian rock guitarist Giambattista Marino(1569–1625), Italian poet Giuliana Marino(born 1986), German model Ignazio Marino(born 1955), Italian surgeon and politician and former Mayor of Rome Juan Carlos Marino (Argentine politician)(born 1963), Argentine politician Juan Carlos Mariño(born 1982), Peruvian football (soccer) player Ken Marino(born 1968), American actor, comedian, director and screenwriter Miguel A. Marino, American engineer Pedro Mariño de Lobera(1528–1594), Spanish historian and conquistodor Rebecca Marino(born 1990), Canadian tennis player Roger Marino, American engineer and businessman Santiago Mariño(1788–1854), Venezuelan independence leader Steve Marino(born 1980), American golfer Ted Boy Marino(1939-2012), Italian-born Brazilian actor and wrestler Tom Marino(born 1952), American politician Marino Links Marino Link from Ancestry Marino Link from Forbears Marino Link from Nobility of Naples de Marinis Link from Libro d’Oro Marino Link from igenea.  They have a research project for Marino. Description: The Marin Family Project is open to all who are interested in working together to find their common heritage through sharing of information and dna testing. All variant spellings are welcome. If your Surname is missing and should be included, we’ll be glad to add it. Please visit our website and add your family to the Patriarch Page. Requirements: A Surname Project traces members of a family that share a common surname. They are of the most interest in cultures where surnames are passed on from father to son like the Y-Chromosome. This project is for males taking a Y-Chromosome DNA (Y-DNA) test. Thus, the individual who tests must be a male who wants to check his direct paternal line (father’s father’s father’s…) with a Y-DNA12, Y-DNA37, Y-DNA67, or Y-DNA111 test and who has one of the surnames listed for the project. Females do not carry their father’s Y-DNA. Females who would like to check their father’s direct paternal line can have a male relative with his surname order a Y-DNA test. Females can also order an mtDNA test for themselves such as the mtDNAPlus test or the mtFullSequence test and participate in an mtDNA project. Both men and women may take our autosomal Family Finder test to discover recent relationships across all family lines. Other surnames in Project Maren, Mari, Maria, Marianna, Mariano, Marica, Marin, Marinaccio, Marines, Maring, Marino, Marinov, Marren, Marring Join the Marin surname project: If you want to join the Marin project please order your DNA test here: » iGENEA Basic    » iGENEA Premium    » iGENEA Expert #1 Russo #2 Ferrari #3 Esposito #4 Bianchi #5 Romano #6 Columbo #7 Ricci

Number 6 Italian Surname Columbo Join Italian Roots and Genealogy on Facebook Some places they refer to Columbo as meaning “keeper of doves”.  Which makes sense based on Joe’s explanation.  I suppose Columbus is the most famous “Columbo”.  But then there is Joseph Columbo, head of the well known family. The English rendition of Colombo, Columbus, is actually as it would have been written in ancient Rome. The word Columbus means dove in Latin.  Because the Latin – usending becomes –oin Italian, his Italian name becomes Colomboand found on any Italian legal document bearing his name. As a surname, it started as being associated with merchants that raised and sold doves and then passed on as a surname to their descendants. The spread of forms of Colomboas a given name is attributed to the religious association of the dove as the symbol of the “Holy Spirit.” It became a term of endearment and love, similar to the English term “dear” and subsequently people began naming their children Colombina, Columbella. Getting back to the surname Colombo, over the centuries it and its related surnames have spread throughout Italy, some forms being analogous to a particular region. Here are just a few: Colomba, Columbo, Colombro, Colombani, Colombetti, Colombrino, Colombini, Colombazzi.     Columbus’ first name Christopher means Christ-bearer. It was used by early Christians as a way of expressing that they carried Christ in their hearts. By the Middle Ages, literal interpretations of the name’s etymology led to legends about a St. Christopher who carried the young Jesus across a river. He had come to be regarded as the patron saint of travelers. Given that Latin came into usage centuries before Christ birth, the word or name Christopher does not trace roots to Latin. However, once Emperor Constantine issued the “Edict of Milan” in 313 A.D. declaring Christianity legal and official in the Roman Empire, the word Christopher began to see a spread of its Latinized and Italianized versions. Given that Italian would never use aphcombination to get an fsound, and hin Italian in cases is optional, in Italian the word and given name usage, evolved into Cristofaro. As for its current-day presence in Italy, Colombo is the seventh most common surname in Italy. It is registered with the Bureau of Statistics in all 20 regions. However, it is most common in the Lombardia region, not Christopher Columbus’ native Liguria. Liguria ranks third after second-ranking Piedmont. It is least common in Abruzzo. The six surnames in order that are more common than Colombo are Rossi, Russo, Ferrari, Esposito, Bianchi and Romano.  Note it is the sixth if you combine Rossi and Russo By Joe Cannavo Italian American Herald Oct 6 2016 Alex Colombo(born 1988), American composer Armando Colombo, German engineer Camila Colombo(born 1990), Uruguayan chess player Cristoforo Colombo, the Italian language name of Italian explorer Christopher Columbus(c. 1451 – 1506) Emilio Colombo(1920–2013), Prime Minister of Italy 1970–1972 and subsequently lifetime Senator Gherardo Colombo(born 1946), Italian magistrate Gioacchino Colombo(1903–1988), Italian automobile engine designer Giovanni Colombo(1902–1992), Cardinal and Archbishop of Milan Giuseppe Colombo(1920–1984), Italian mathematician, nicknamed “Bepi” Joe Cesare Colombo(1930–1971), Italian industrial designer John Robert Colombo(born 1936), Canadian author Jürgen Colombo(born 1949), German track cyclist Luca Colombo (cyclist)(born 1969), Italian racing cyclist María Colombo(born 1962), Argentine field hockey player Realdo Colombo(c. 1515 – 1559), Italian anatomist and surgeon Roberto Colombo (motorcyclist)(1927–1957), Italian Grand Prix motorcycle racer Umberto Colombo (scientist)(1927–2006), Italian scientist Colombo crime familyof New York Joseph Colombo(1923–1978), its namesake From wikipedia.   Columbo Stemma Geographical distribution As of 2014, 66.9% of all known bearers of the surname Colombowere residents of Italy(frequency 1:458), 11.3% of Brazil(1:9,111), 7.2% of Argentina(1:2,986), 3.7% of the United States(1:48,838), 3.5% of Sri Lanka(1:2,965), 2.0% of France(1:16,850) and 1.1% of Venezuela(1:13,971). In Italy, the frequency of the surname was higher than national average (1:458) only in one region: Lombardy(1:85).[1] Columbo Links Columbo Link from Ancestry Columbo Link from Forbears Italian Name Search Link Click here to purchase a copy of my story