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Origin of the Surname Thomazelli
The surname Thomazelli has a geographical distribution that, although relatively limited in number of incidences, reveals interesting patterns that allow us to infer its possible origin. The highest concentration is in Brazil, with 794 registrations, followed by the United States with 2, and to a lesser extent in England and Italy, with 1 registration each. The predominance in Brazil, a country with a history of Portuguese colonization and significant European immigration, suggests that the surname could have roots in Europe, specifically in countries where Romance or Germanic languages have been influential. The presence in the United States and England, although scarce, may be the result of later migrations, adaptations or dispersion of families that carried the surname. The concentration in Brazil, in particular, may indicate that the surname arrived there through European immigrants, possibly Italian or Portuguese, in the context of 19th and 20th century migrations. Together, these data allow us to propose that the most probable origin of the Thomazelli surname is in Europe, with a strong Italian influence, given the structure and phonetics of the surname, and that its expansion in Brazil is due to later migratory and colonial processes.
Etymology and Meaning of Thomazelli
The surname Thomazelli seems to derive from a patronymic form, probably linked to a proper name with Germanic or Latin roots. The structure of the surname, in particular the presence of the suffix "-elli", is characteristic of Italian surnames, especially from northern Italy, where diminutive and patronymic suffixes in "-elli" are common. The root "Thomaz" or "Tomas" clearly refers to the proper name "Thomas", which in turn comes from the Hebrew "Ta'oma", which means "twin" or "double". The form "Thomaz" is a variant of "Tomás" in Portuguese and in some Italian regions, and its use as the basis for a surname suggests a patronymic origin, that is, it originally indicated "son of Tomás" or a descent from someone named Tomás.
The suffix "-elli" in Italian usually has a diminutive or familiar character, and in some cases indicates a family belonging or relationship. Thomazelli could therefore be interpreted as "little Thomas" or "son of Thomas", in line with the formation of patronymic surnames in the Italian tradition. The presence of this structure in the surname reinforces the hypothesis that its origin is in Italy, specifically in regions where the influence of Italian and its patronymic forms are predominant.
As for its classification, the surname Thomazelli would clearly be patronymic, derived from the proper name Tomás, modified by the suffix "-elli" to form a family or diminutive surname. The etymology, therefore, combines elements of Hebrew root (through the name Thomas) and a typical Italian formation, which reinforces the hypothesis of an origin in that region.
History and Expansion of the Surname
Analysis of the current distribution of the surname Thomazelli suggests that its most likely origin is in Italy, specifically in northern regions where patronymic surnames with "-elli" suffixes are common. The presence in Italy, although with a single record in the database, may be indicative of an origin in that area, given that the structure of the surname is typical of that onomastic tradition. The dispersion to Brazil, which concentrates the greatest number of incidents, probably occurred in the context of Italian migration to South America, especially in the 19th and early 20th centuries, when many Italians emigrated in search of better work and life opportunities.
Brazil was one of the main destinations for Italian emigration, and the arrival of families with surnames like Thomazelli may have contributed to their presence in the country. Colonization and agricultural expansion in regions such as São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro facilitated the settlement of Italian immigrants, who took with them their surnames and cultural traditions. The low presence in the United States and England can be explained by secondary migrations or by the dispersion of descendants in other countries, but without a pattern of concentration in those regions.
The process of expansion of the surname, therefore, can be understood as a result of Italian migrations to Brazil, in a context of colonization and economic development. The current distribution reflects these historical movements, in which Italian patronymic surnames established themselves in new regions, adapting to local languages and cultures, but retaining theiroriginal structure. The presence in Anglo-Saxon countries, although minimal, could be due to later migrations or the Italian diaspora abroad.
Thomazelli Variants and Related Forms
As for the variants of the surname Thomazelli, it is likely that there are related spelling forms, especially in historical records or in different countries where the writing of surnames may vary due to phonetic adaptations or transcription errors. Some possible variants include "Tomazelli", "Tomaselli", "Tomaselli", or even simplified forms such as "Thomazzi". The difference between these variants lies in the presence or absence of the initial vowel "h", or in changes in the double consonant "ll".
In other languages, especially in the Italian context, the surname could appear as "Tomaselli" or "Tomaselli", keeping the root in "Tomas" and the suffix "-elli". Phonetic adaptation in Anglo-Saxon countries or in regions with different spelling traditions could give rise to forms such as "Tomaselli" or "Tomaselli", although these would be less frequent.
Related to the surname, there could be other patronymics derived from the same proper name, such as "Tomaso" in Italian, or surnames that share the root "Tomas" with different suffixes or regional prefixes. The presence of these variants and related surnames reflects the tradition of patronymic formation in Italian culture and its dispersion around the world through migration.
