From the ancient and beautiful Italian island of Sicily
emerged a variety of distinguished names, including the notable surname Caranni. 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. Local
names, also 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, and does not necessarily denote nobility. The Caranni family lived in a town just outside Palermo, as in 1189, a member of the Caro family was the Archbishop of Monreale.
Early Origins of the Caranni family
The surname Caranni was first found in Sicily
(Italian: Sicilia), the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, Naples and the southern portion of the peninsula. Research shows that records of the Caranni family date back to the year 1189 when a member of the Caro family was the Archbishop of Monreale, a town just outside Palermo.
Early History of the Caranni family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Caranni research. More information is included under the topic Early Caranni History in all our PDF Extended History products
and printed products wherever possible.
Caranni 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 Caranni include Caro, Cari, Cara, De Caro, Di Caro, Di Cara, La Cara, Li Cari, Carello, Carelli, Carella, Carillo, Caretti, Caroli, Caretta, Carino, Carini, Caruccio, Carucci, Carocci, Carracci, Caricchio, Caricchia, Carollo, Carullo, Carulli, Carotti, Carone, Caroni, Carofiglio, Carofratello, Carolillo, Carotenuto and many more.
Early Notables of the Caranni family (pre 1700)
Prominent among bearers of this surname in early times was Marchetto Cara (c.
1470-1525), an Italian composer, lutenist and singer of the Renaissance; Cecco del Caravaggio, a painter born in 1571 near Milan. He is most famous for his technique of "Chiaroscuro" or light and dark contrast. Some of his most... Another 99 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Caranni Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Caranni family to the New World and Oceana
A look at the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Caranni: Miss Cara, who sailed to New Orleans in 1821, and S. Caro, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851.