Origin of the surname Fante

Recorded in England in many and varied spelling forms including: Fant, Font, Faint, Faunt, Vant and even Phant, this extraordinary name has had an extraordinary development. It was first introduced into England by the Normans after 1066 and as such derived from the baptismal nickname of endearment L' enfant, meaning the Child. The Medieval English gradually restyled this to Lenfant, then Le Fant, and finally the "modern" spellings without the article "Le". The name is also found in the unrecognizable London District name of "Elephant and Castle" - a strangled form of "Le Infanta di Castille," the daughter of the King of Spain.

Early examples of the name recording include William Le Faunt in the Forest Plea Rolls of Staffordshire in the year 1271, John Faunt of London in 1277 and Alan Fant in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk for 1327. Later recordings were William Faynte at St Giles Church, Cripplegate, London on December 7, 1628 and Edward Faint, at St Dunstans Church, Stepney, on January 28th 1644. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Thomas Lenfaunt which was dated 1230, in the "pipe rolls of Shropshire", during the reign of King Henry 111, known as "The Frenchman", 1216 - 1272. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was sometimes known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

It should derive from the medieval name Fante (derived from the Latin term infans, infantis, "boy, child") or from the apheresis of names such as Bonfante.

The surname of Fante dates back to at least 1100 as evidenced by the text of an act conserved in San Giorgio in Palazzo in Milan, where an Azzone Fante appears and dating back to 1150: "...ex quibus fuerunt solidi viginti de illis libris tribus quas Azo Fante dedit ei pro modio uno ficto, et solidi quindecim quos Veglo de Bollate dedit ei pro rebus de Albiate quas emit, et libre tres et dimidia de terra ...".

The surname Fante would seem to have Venetian origins, but it is possible that there is also a nucleus in Lazio.

Fantelli has a small lineage in Trentino and one in the Bologna area.

Fantetti has a lineage between Roman and Latin and one between the provinces of Campobasso and Foggia.

Fanticelli, very rare, is from Arezzo.

Fantilli has a lineage in Rome and one between Theatine and Molise.

Fantò is specific to Reggio.

Fantoli, very rare, is from the Verbanese area.

Fantolini, very rare, is from Livorno.

Fantolino, typical Piedmontese, is from Turin and the Asti area.

The surname Fante. Genealogy, origin, history, meaning, and significance

Discovering the historical roots of fante is deeply interesting, as it takes us back to the ancestors and relatives who established this lineage. The origin, the coat of arms or the different heraldic shields, and the bibliography in which the surname fante is mentioned are part of this exciting investigation. Adhering to what we know about the way surnames originated, it is possible to offer a realistic explanation of the origins of fante.

The surname Fante around the world

Although surnames have a specific origin at a certain time and region of the planet, many of them have spread far and wide across the world for various reasons, as is the case with the surname fante. The list of countries with a higher presence of people with the surname fante provides us with a perspective on the history of the surname, beyond its origins, focusing on its migrations.

History of Fante

The historical chronicle of fante is based on a striking series of events that were led by those who have carried this surname throughout history. For those like you, who are interested in the history hidden behind the surname fante, it is essential to find all kinds of information, both direct and tangential, that helps to construct a solid narrative of how the birth and expansion of fante developed. In the following lines, you will find everything we have been able to gather about the surname fante.

We suggest that if you want to learn more about the surname fante, try to locate it through the bibliographic sources we suggest. We keep our website updated through our own research and also thanks to contributions from people like you, after verification; so if you have information about fante and send it to us, we will update it on this website.

Notable Figures Named Fante

It's more than likely that there have been some distinguished fantes throughout human history. Sadly, not all the contributions of those who bore the surname fante were recorded by the chroniclers of the time. If you or someone you know bears the surname fante, you could potentially build illustrious lineages through your efforts and virtues.

The surname Fante and its bibliographic sources

Thanks to a significant bibliographic review, we have so far compiled information on the heraldry, history, and genealogy of fante. The origin, history, coat of arms or different coats of arms, and the heraldry of fante are recorded in a wide variety of sources and documents that are essential to know for better compilation. Accessing the archives of the town or towns where your ancestors were born and lived is, of course, a good way to trace the origins of fante.

SOURCES

These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of fante, and at the same time, of surnames in general.

Origin of Fante