Brandi History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Italy

Etymology of Brandi

The distinguished surname Brandi can be traced back to the ancient and beautiful region of Venice. Although people were originally known only by a single name, it became necessary for people to adopt 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 were characterized by a profusion of derivatives coined from given names. The most common type of family name found in the region of Venice is the patronymic surname, 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 Feudal System. 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 Brandi came from the word branda, which means sword.

Early Origins of the Brandi family

Early History of the Brandi family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brandi research. The years 1327, 1345, 1397, 1450, 1460, 1525, 1620, 1625, 1660 and 1789 are included under the topic Early Brandi History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brandi Spelling Variations

Enormous variation in spelling and form characterizes those Italian names that originated in the medieval era. This is caused by two main factors: regional tradition, and inaccuracies in the recording process. Before the last few hundred years, scribes spelled names according to their sounds. Spelling variations were the unsurprising result. The variations of Brandi include Brandi, Brando, Branda, Branni, Branno, Brandani, Brandini, Brandino, Brandoli, Brandolini, Brandoni, Brandone, Brandacci, Brandazzi, Brandaglia and many more.

Early Notables of the Brandi family

Prominent among members of the family was

• Francesco Uguccione Urbino Brandi, who was the Bishop of Faenza in 1327
• Ciuto Brandini was a political reformist in Florence around 1345
• Michelangelo Brandini was a well known sculptor and architect in Florence around 1450
• Giacinto Brandi of Poli was a prominent artist in 1625
• Carlo Emanuele Nicolis Brandizzo of Turin, was a nobleman, a soldier, and eventually was promoted to colonel around 1660