Does the surname Girolami originate from Romania?

Question

Always thought it was from the north of italy but have been told tonite, that my family moved from Romania 500 years ago?

Answer 1

Perhaps the other side of your family as the name: Girolami
is one of the oldest Italian (late Roman) names.


Zanobi, of the noble Girolami family, was born around 340 and in 380 became the bishop of Florence. He was a great man who was full of a Christian virtue which in turn earnt him the admiration of Saint Ambrogio. Saint Ambrogio wanted him to meet the Pope at all costs and following this meeting, the Pope was so impressed by Zanobi's dedication to Christianity that he announced that he wanted San Zanobi to be appointed as head of the Florentine Church, much to the enthusiastic support of the local community and the delight of San Zanobi. Up until his death in 417, he was known as a prodigy of miracles including one particular incident where he actually resuscitated the young son of a french pilgrim. His tombstone, which is affixed onto one of the walls of Palazzo dei Visacci in Borgo Albiti actually serves as a testiment to this particular miracle.

Answer 2

Only part of your family moved from Romania. 500 years is a long time and there's a lot of different family names in your family tree if you go back that far, and a lot of different people from different places. I could tell my kids that there ancestors came from Scotland even though I have a German name because my father's mother's family has a Scottish background. On top of which names often change and not just slightly but people adopt totally different surnames for a number of reasons not least of which is the desire to fit in. As case in point some members of my family changed their name to Miller while they were living in England during W.W.1 because having a German name there at the time could make things very difficult. So having a Romanian ancestor doesn't mean that ancestor was named Girolami.

Answer 3

Lots of Romanian families are descended from gypsies, and hence were kicked around Europe cos nobody wanted them. A lot of them settled in other countries under slightly different names and converted to Catholicism to avoid persecution. So maybe the name Girolami could be similar to a Romanian name that was changed a little. So its possible they could have originally been from Romania.

Answer 4

Girolami is mainly common in Central Italy (especially Tuscany) and Rome and nearby; it cames from latin Girolamus. In ancient written documents the surname Girolami was mentioned yet in Florence, 1300.

Answer 5

I think it is Italian.