Machiavelli History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Italy

Etymology of Machiavelli

From the historical and enchanting Italian region of Tuscany emerged a multitude of noble families, including the distinguished Machiavelli family. During the Middle Ages, as populations grew and travel between regions became more frequent, the people of Tuscany found it necessary to adopt a second name to identify themselves and their families. 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. Although the most common type of family name found in Tuscany is the patronymic surname, which is derived from the father's given name, the nickname type of surname is also frequently found. Nickname surnames were derived from an eke-name, or added name. They usually reflected the physical characteristics or attributes of the first person that used the name. The surname Machiavelli is a name for a person who was one noted for his good looks. The surname Macchiavelli is derived from the Italian word malo, and from the Latin malus, which means dangerous and chiavella meaning nail or spike.

Early Origins of the Machiavelli family

Early History of the Machiavelli family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Machiavelli research. The years 1418, 1469, 1479, 1532 and 1641 are included under the topic Early Machiavelli History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Machiavelli 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 Machiavelli include Macchiavelli, Macchiavello, Machiavello, Machiavelli, Machiaverna and many more.

Early Notables of the Machiavelli family

Prominent among members of the family was

• Niccol Macchiavelli, born in 1469 in Florence, who was a statesman, writer, politician, and philosopher. His most famous work, completed in 1532, is entitled The Prince, and in it, Macchiavelli descri...