Spelling question... Fanucci, Fanucchi, Vannucci, etc...

[GeoFan49]

Fanucci, Fannucci, Fanucchi, Fannucchi, Vanucci, Vannucci, Vanucchi, Vannucchi, etc... are these variations distantly related?

My grandfather's birth record in Italy, and his Italian passport, show his name as Tito FANUCCI. My daughter asked me about the Vannucci name, and other similar variations found in Italy.

Looking at the geographic distribution -- all these family names are mainly concentrated between Lucca, Florence, and Pisa. Pehaps there were variations on spelling, made a few hundred years ago, and then passed down for generations? (That's just my guess.)

Please compare some of these maps:

http://www.gens.labo.net/it/cognomi/gen ... me=FANUCCI

less than 200 families, clustered in a few towns, mostly between Lucca, Pisa, and Florence, also a group to the East (in Umbria), and in Rome.

http://www.gens.labo.net/it/cognomi/gen ... e=FANUCCHI

a few hundred, very concentrared, just East of Lucca.

http://www.gens.labo.net/it/cognomi/gen ... e=VANNUCCI

Over 1,000 families, mostly between Lucca and Florence.

http://www.gens.labo.net/it/cognomi/gen ... =VANNUCCHI

A few hundred families, mostly near Florence, and some near Lucca.

http://www.gens.labo.net/it/cognomi/gen ... me=VANUCCI

only a few dozen, all on the East coast of Italy, East of Florence (Firenze).

Compare any of the above maps with this one, for example:

http://www.gens.labo.net/it/cognomi/gen ... nome=Rossi

With all these variations, mainly concentrated in just a few clusters, in the area around Lucca, Pisa, and Florence, it seems (to me) they must be somehow related.

Just compare the maps, it could not be just coincidental. There must be some historical reason for the variations.

Can anyone explain these onomastic spelling variations?

George

[Incipit]

Looking at the geographic distribution -- all these family names are mainly concentrated between Lucca, Florence, and Pisa. Pehaps there were variations on spelling, made a few hundred years ago, and then passed down for generations? (That's just my guess.)

Your guess is right... infact in Italy for many years the ecclesiastic documents register the same surname in many different forms.
But...
Vannucci/Vannucchi usually come from:
Names: Giovanni > Vanni > Vannuccio (diminutive)
Son of Vannuccio = Vannucci
and it's different from Fanucci/Fanucchi, which derives from Fanuccio (another old Tuscan Name).

For similar cases, see also MENICI/MENICHI/MENCI/MENCHI (Domenico>Menico/Menco>Menici/Menchi)

If you need a research in Tuscany you may visit our site:
www.incipitprato.com

Regards
Tommaso

[GeoFan49]

Thank you Tommaso, for a very helpful answer.

Also, I see many useful links on your website.

I've read elsewhere about the possible origins of Fanucci

... Stefano > Stefanuccio > Fanuccio > Fanucci

Would you say that the Fanucci and Fanucchi families from
the region of Lucca/Pisa/Pistoia are probably distantly related?

Would both names: Fanucci and Fanucchi be pronounced in the same way in Toscana?

Some of the Fanucchi here in California say "fanookey", would that pronunciation ever be used in Italy by native Italians?

[Incipit]

Would you say that the Fanucci and Fanucchi families from
the region of Lucca/Pisa/Pistoia are probably distantly related?

Probably yes... but you need to view the documents to say that without any doubt...

Would both names: Fanucci and Fanucchi be pronounced in the same way in Toscana?
Some of the Fanucchi here in California say "fanookey", would that pronunciation ever be used in Italy by native Italians?

No, the pronuntiation is different. Here is the phonetic transcription
fanucci : [fa'nutt∫i]
fanucchi : [fa'nukki] (very similar to your fanookey, but with a stronger k)

Regards
Tommaso