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Origin of the Surname delle-donne
The surname delle-donne presents a structure clearly linked to the Italian language, evidenced by its form and linguistic components. The current geographical distribution reveals that its presence is notably significant in Spanish-speaking countries, especially in Spain and Latin America, with lower incidences in European countries and the United States. The incidence in Spain, with a value of 7, compared to other countries, suggests that the surname could have roots in the Iberian Peninsula, possibly arriving through Italian migration or from Italian families established on the peninsula. The presence in Latin American countries, such as Chile, Ecuador and Argentina, may be related to Italian migratory movements during the 19th and 20th centuries, when many Italians emigrated to these regions in search of better opportunities. The current distribution, with a presence in Spanish-speaking countries and Italy, reinforces the hypothesis of an Italian origin, probably linked to a family or lineage that, at some point, adopted a name that combines descriptive and social identity elements.
Etymology and Meaning of delle-donne
The surname delle-donne is composed of two elements in Italian: delle and donne. The word delle is the feminine plural form of the definite article in Italian, equivalent to "las" in Spanish, while donne means "women." Therefore, the literal expression would be "of the women" or "the women." From a linguistic point of view, this structure suggests that the surname could have a toponymic or descriptive origin, associated with a place, a family or a social characteristic linked to women or a prominent female group in a community. The presence of the definite article in the surname indicates that it could be a surname of medieval origin, when it was common for families to adopt names related to places or social characteristics, often with a descriptive or symbolic character.
As for its classification, delle-donne could be considered a toponymic or descriptive surname. The reference to "the women" may have been used to identify a family residing in a place known for its relationship with women, or perhaps a community or institution linked to them. The structure of the surname, with a double element, also suggests that it may have been adopted by a family or group that wanted to highlight its social identity or its connection to a specific place or characteristic.
From an etymological perspective, the surname does not seem to derive from a classic patronymic, such as those ending in -ez or -i, nor from a job, nor from a physical characteristic. Instead, its root in Italian and its literal meaning point to a descriptive or toponymic origin, possibly related to a place or an institution that bore that name or that reference.
History and expansion of the surname
The analysis of the current distribution of the surname delle-donne allows us to infer that its most probable origin is in Italy, specifically in regions where the Italian language and its dialectal variants have been predominant. The presence in Italy, although scarce compared to other countries, suggests that it may have been a lineage or family surname with roots in some Italian community, perhaps in the north or center of the country, where surnames with definite articles and descriptive elements are more frequent.
The process of expansion of the surname to other countries, especially in Latin America, may be linked to the Italian migrations of the 19th and 20th centuries. During that period, millions of Italians emigrated to countries such as Argentina, Chile, Ecuador and others, taking their surnames and traditions with them. The presence in Spanish-speaking countries, with significant incidences in Spain and Latin America, reinforces the hypothesis that the surname was carried by Italian immigrants who settled in these regions, integrating into local communities and transmitting their surname to subsequent generations.
In Spain, the presence of the surname could be due to Italian migration during the Modern and Contemporary Age, or even to the adoption of the surname by Spanish families who, at some point, adopted a name of Italian origin for social or marital reasons. The incidence in countries such as Chile and Ecuador, with values of 6 and 4 respectively, indicates that the surname could have been consolidated in these regions through migration and integration into elites or communities.local.
The distribution pattern also suggests that, although the surname is not extremely common in Europe, its presence in Italy and Latin American countries reflects a dispersion process linked to historical migratory movements. The lower incidence in countries such as Switzerland, Germany and France could be due to minor cultural or migratory contacts, or the adoption of regional variants of the surname.
Variants and related forms
Regarding variants of the surname delle-donne, it is possible that different spelling forms exist, especially in historical records or in different countries. For example, in Italy, it could be found as Delle Donne (without hyphens), or even in abbreviated or adapted forms in other languages, such as De Donne in Spanish-speaking contexts or Von Donne in Germanic contexts, although the latter would be less likely given the original structure.
Likewise, in Spanish-speaking countries, it is possible that the surname has been adapted phonetically or graphically, giving rise to variants such as Delle Donne or even simplifications such as Donne. In Italy, the original form is probably maintained, but abroad, especially in immigration records, different spellings could be found due to transcription or phonetic adaptation.
Relationships with other surnames could exist based on common roots, such as surnames that contain the element Donne or that refer to women or places related to them. However, since delle-donne seems to be a relatively specific surname, its relationship with other surnames would be more at the level of conceptual root than direct lineage.
