Surname Novelli - Meaning and Origin
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Novelli: What does the surname Novelli mean?
The surname Novelli is of Italian origin and is derived from the Latin term 'novellus' meaning 'new or young'. Distinctly, it traces back to the Middle Ages, when it was generally used to distinguish the younger of two bearers of the same personal name, typically a son from his father. This surname could also refer to someone who was a newcomer or a stranger in a particular place. So, essentially, 'Novelli' could identify a young person or a newcomer. Like many Italian surnames, it's possible that its meaning could vary depending on the regional context and its usage in different families. Novelli is quite common in Italy, especially in the Tuscany and Abruzzo regions. It's also found among Italian diaspora worldwide.
Order DNA origin analysisNovelli: Where does the name Novelli come from?
The surname Novelli is most commonly found in Italy with roots stretching to ancient Roman times. It is found predominantly in north-central Italy, including the regions of Bologna, Padova, and Venice, as well as in parts of Sicily. Small to moderate populations exist in other areas of Italy, as well.
Outside of the Italian regions, the surname Novelli is most commonly found today in the United States and Argentina. In the US, the surname originated with a wave of Italian immigrants who settled in the north-eastern United States and the west coast of the country. In Argentina, the surname was brought over by Italian settlers who arrived en masse in the late 1800s.
Surprisingly, Novelli can also be found in the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Canada. Novelli's in these countries are likely the result of recent immigrants from Italy who brought their surname with them.
In conclusion, the surname Novelli is still most commonly found in Italy. But, it can also be encountered in a few other countries including the US, Argentina, the UK, South Africa, and Canada.
Variations of the surname Novelli
The surname Novelli has various variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include Novello, Novella, Novelli, Novallo, Novellati, Noveletti, Novellini, Novalini, Novele, Novoli, and Novoli.
The surname Novelli, which is found both in Italy and France, is believed to have originated from the Latin novellus, meaning "a farmstead or property". The first recorded bearer of the name was the 6th-century Italian nobleman Marino Novelli.
The Italian surname Novelli has various spellings in different forms due to dialectal influences. In France, it is mostly spelled with a single 'l' (Novell, Novells), probably because of French linguistic change and sound modification during the Middle Ages.
In some cases, the surname also appears as Novella or Novella. This form is generally found in areas of southern Italy where linguistic change was more rapid than in other regions. It is derived from the Italian phrase "novella," meaning "a property or farm."
The spelling of Novello is found in some regions of Italy. This form of Novelli is believed to be derived from the Latin form "novellus," meaning "a small piece of land or property."
In Sardinia, it is spelled as Novallo, which is believed to be derived from the Sardinian term "novau" meaning "new."
The other variants of surname Novelli include Noveletti, Novellini, Novalini, Novele, Novoli, and Novoli, which are mostly found in regions of Italy like Lombardy, Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna, and Veneto. The last two variants are found in the central area of Italy, and Novoli is common in the north.
Overall, the different spellings of Novelli can be traced back to its original origin, which is the Latin term novellus. This diversity shows the wide-reaching influence of the surname and the impact it has had on different geographies, dialects, and languages.
Famous people with the name Novelli
- Christine Novelli: an American/British singer-songwriter, producer, DJ and speaker.
- Cristina Novelli: an Italian-American, classical crossover soprano.
- Joe Novelli: a retired American professional ice hockey player.
- Franco Novelli: an Italian cardinal of the Catholic Church.
- Steve Novelli: an American jazz keyboardist and composer with numerous recordings and compositions.
- Carlo Novelli: an Italian film actor, screenwriter and director.
- Joseph Novelli: an American former professional baseball player.
- Stephen Novelli: an American actor, writer, and television director.
- Peter Novelli: an American businessman, specifically a wine producer in Napa Valley.
- Giovanni Novelli: an Italian painter and printmaker.