[Surname] Re: Surname "Catelli"
by Jim Young (guest)
3/18/2008, 12:36 PM
Low Latin catellus and Italian cagnolino mean a small dog, I believe a pet dog rather than a working dog. So I would assume from this that Catellus was the ancestor's nickname. However the text quoted suggests that the eponym might have bred dogs, or have had a significant experience involving a dog.
Comasco and Parmense as areas of origin would be the regions of Como and Parma in the North.
As for Lombards, Etruscans, etc., I don't believe surnames can reveal such distant origins.