Castelletta History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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The distinguished surname Castelletta 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, local surnames are also found. Local names, which are the least frequent of the major types of surnames found in Italy, are derived from a place-name where the original bearer once resided or held land. Often Italian local surnames bore the prefix "di," which signifies emigration from one place to another, but does not necessarily denote nobility. The Castelletta family lived at or near a "castle."
Early Origins of the Castelletta family
The surname Castelletta was first found in the year 1070, when Pantaleone Castelli was responsible for the construction of the bronze doors for the church of San Paolo.
Early History of the Castelletta family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Castelletta research. More information is included under the topic Early Castelletta History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Castelletta Spelling Variations
Surnames that originated in Italy are characterized by an enormous number of spelling variations. Some of these are derived from regional traditions and dialects. Northern names, for instance, often end in "o", while southern names tend to end in "i". Other variations come from the fact the medieval scribes tended to spell according to the sound of words, rather than any particular set of rules. The recorded variations of Castelletta include Castelli, Castello, Castella, Castiello, Castiglio, Del Castello, Del Castiglio, Castelletti, Castelletto, Castelletta, Castellini, Castellino, Castellucci, Casteluccio, Castelluzzi, Castelluzzo, Castellotti, Castellotto, Castellone, Castiglione, Castiglioni, Castioni, Castellacci, Castellaccio, Castellazzi, Castellazzo, Castellani, Castellano, Castellana, Castellàn, Castellaneta, Castellari, Castellaro, Castellarini, Castellarìn, Castelfranco, Castelfranchi, Castelnovo, Castelnuovo, Castelnovi, Castelvecchio, Castelvecchi, Castelvetro and many more.
Early Notables of the Castelletta family (pre 1700)
Prominent among members of the family was Alberto Castellani was mayor of Cerea in 1210, 1211, and again in 1229; Pierozzo Castellani was a priest in 1390; Luca Castellano was a priest in 1420; Agostino Castelli of Brescia was a military engineer and a prominent architect in 1488; the Da Castello family, who were landowners in Novara during the 12th century; Ludovico Castellani was a famous sculptor in Ferrara in the 15th century; Castellano Castellani was a nobleman in Florence around this time; Salvi Castellucci was a famous...
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Migration of the Castelletta family
Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Castelletta or a variant listed above: R. Castello, who settled in New York City in 1822; M. Castello settled in Boston, Massachusetts in 1823 at the age of 25; Mark, John, Atillio, and A.B. Castello all arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1878..
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