Origin of Meneghelli

Recorded in over two hundred and fifty spellings from Dominguez, Dominik and Di Domenico to Mengue, Mingone, and Minocchi, and found throughout the western world, this famous surname is of regarded as being of medieval Spanish origin. It derives from the Roman (Latin) "Dominicus", meaning "belonging to the lord god", from "dominus", lord or master. The name was given considerable impetus by the fame of the Spanish saint "Dominicus", who founded the Dominican order of monks, although it was already well established.

The suffix "-ez" or "es" when they occur are patronymic, they derive from the Latin "-icus" and implies "son of". Surnames derived from personal names are the oldest surname type, and in the Christian world are often connected with the twelve "Crusades" when various European kings lead expeditions to try to wrest the Holy Land, and particularly Jerusalem, from the Moslems. As a result of the crusades it became fashionable in Europe to name children, particularly sons, after biblical characters. Recordings of the surname taken from civil and religious registers include Ambrosio Domingues, at Chiclana, Cadiz, Spain, in 1537, Fernando Dominguez, born at Jerez de la Fronterna, Cadiz, in 1544, Dennys Dominicus, who was buried at St James church, Clerkenwell, London, in 1576, and the marriage of Blas Dominguez to Catalina de Balbuena, at Santa Maria Magdalena, Valladolid, on January 17th 1584. The coat of arms associated with the name has the blazon of a green shield, charged with two golden towers joined at the middle by a black chain, and surmounted by a black eagle. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Dominicus de Buketon, which was dated 1326, in the register of England known as "The fines Roll", during the reign of King Edward 11, known as "Edward of Caernafon", 1307 - 1327. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was 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 derives from hypocoristic or augmentative variations, more or less dialectal, of Menego, Menico or Minigo, a dialectal apheresis form of the name Domenico.

The surname Meneghetti has a Venetian lineage and one in the province of Milan.

Meneghell is typical of Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia.

Meneghelli is specific to the area which includes the Mantua, Trentino and above all the Veronese areas.

Meneghello is more properly Venetian, from Verona, Vicenza, Padua, Treviso and Venice.

Menegon is typical of the Veneto and Friuli, particularly widespread in the Vicenza and Treviso areas, with significant presences also in the Padua, Pordenone and Udine areas, it also has a secondary lineage between the Romans and the Latin area, probably the result of the forced emigration of the Venetians for the Pontine marshes.

Menegoni, much rarer, is typically Trentino with lineages also in the Latin and Roman areas.

Menegotti is characteristic of Verona and its province.

Menegotto is more specific than Marostica in the Vicenza area.

Menegozzi, very rare, could be from Bologna.

Menegus is from Belluno.

Meneguzzi is from Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia.

Meneguzzo is from the province of Vicenza.

Menichini has several lineages, one Tuscan among Pistoia, Lucca, Pisa and Livorno, one Umbrian, Lazio which includes Umbria and Lazio, and one in the Neapolitan area.

Menichino, much rarer, has a lineage between Neapolitan and Salerno and one in Rome.

Minichini is specific to the Neapolitan.

Minighin is typical of the Venetian.

Minighini, very rare, is from the lower Udine area.

Minighino is practically unique and is probably due to a transcription error.