Castelli
An Italian surname from a word for “castle,” often originally referring to someone who lived near or worked at a castle or fortified place.
The #9,834 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 93,787 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Castelli is the Italian plural form of castello, meaning “castle” or “fortified place,” ultimately from Latin castellum, a small fort or stronghold. As a surname, it likely began as a locational or topographical name for someone associated with castles, castle lands, or a place called Castello/Castelli. In some cases it may also have been used for people from towns or districts bearing that name.
History
The name is especially common in Italy and appears in many regional forms tied to place-names and noble or urban families. It is related to a broad European surname family built on the same castle-root, including Castelli, Castello, Castellano, and Castellan. The form with -i can reflect a family or plural sense in Italian surname usage.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The same Latin root behind Castelli also gave English words like “castle” through Norman French.
From the historical record
“18 American Surnames. Capello, Cliento, Catena, Corrado, Caverno, - Castello, Castelli, Castella, Castellani, Castellanos, - Clarius, Clericus, Candidas, Copia, Corpora, Citius, Caraella, Campana, Caliga, Campes- tra, - Copit, Clavis, Carnis, Collis, Capto, Custos, Calor, Civis, - Comes, Comitis, Comito, Comity, -…”
— A Grammar of American Surnames