Adinolfi is specific to the area that includes Naples and Salerno with its epicenter in Cava dei Tirreni (SA), Antinolfi, very rare, would seem to be from Campania, especially from Naples and its neighbor Caserta, deriving from the Germanic medieval name Adinulfus or Atenulfus of which we have an example in this writing of 1129: "... Guido de titulo Sanctae Mariae in Valata; Adinulfus abbas Farfensis, Bernardus abbas Clararum-Vallium, qui tunc temporis in Gaul divini verbs famosissimus praedicator erat ...". additions provided by Fabio Paolucci Adinolfi is widespread as a leopard spot in Italy, but it is a typically Campania surname: the epicenter would appear to be Cava de'Tirreni in the province of Salerno, where there are many Adinolfi stocks. The surname derives from the ancient name Atenolfus, a variant of Adolfus, composed of the Germanic terms athala and wulfa, which mean respectively noble, noble lineage and wolf. The meaning of noble wolf is understandable if we consider the fact that the wolf itself was a particularly dear animal to the Germanic god Odin: this name in fact spread in Italy at first thanks to the Ostrogoths and later by the Germanic peoples who they followed the Goths in the High Middle Ages. The name noble wolf, then Adolfus or Atenolfus, was particularly suited to the Germanic warriors to highlight their strength and ferocity, in fact, similar to that of a wolf. An Adinolfi family, coming from the Salerno area, perhaps from Agropoli, was awarded a heraldic privilege.
Buy a heraldic document with your coat of arms
You may be interested
Nobles: Italia (Campania - Puglia - Calabria - Sicilia)
Nobles: Italia (Sicilia)Verba Volant, Scripta Manent
