Marinelli
An Italian surname most often understood as a patronymic or diminutive form of Marino, meaning “of Marino” or “descended from Marino.”
The #7,430 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 68,870 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Marinelli is an Italian surname built from the personal name Marino, ultimately from Latin Marinus, meaning “of the sea” or “seaman.” The ending -elli is a common Italian surname ending that can function as a diminutive or a family-name plural, so the name may originally have meant “the family of Marino” or “little Marino.” In practice, it is usually treated as a patronymic surname from an ancestor named Marino.
History
The surname is found in many parts of Italy, especially in central and southern areas where surnames formed from given names were common. Like many Italian family names, it spread abroad through emigration in the 19th and 20th centuries, which helps explain its presence in the United States today. Related forms such as Marino, Marin, and Marini are also widespread.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Because it comes from Marinus, the surname ultimately points back to the sea even when it began as a family name.