Surname Mei - Italian or Chinese

[lplona]

Hi,

My family name is Mei and my grandparents were from Fano. I'm interested in learning of the origin of the Mei surname. My Italian family thinks it's of Chinese origin, but a Chinese friend says it's Itallian. Looking in large phone directories in NY and Los Angeles lists many of both!

Where do I start?

Thanks,
Lydia

[misbris]

Hi and welcome to the forum,

This site will show you how common the name is in Italy. Put Mei where it says cognome and click the arrow.

http://www.gens.labo.net/en/cognomi/genera.html

[lplona]

Hi and thanks for the swift reply!

I know the name is common in Italy, but it's also common in China!

I'm trying to find out how either the Italian name got to China or the Chinese name got to Italy...all I know about the Chinese connection is that the word mei means plum flower, or something similar.

[Seraphina]

Hi,

Bear in mind that the Chinese surname Mei is only the English translation
of what the name sounds like.

It is unlikely that there is a connection with the Italian name.

If you do manage to research back far enough and find there is a connection between your Mei family and China, let us know.

Seraphina

[Michael31]

http://www.cognomiitaliani.org/cognomi/cognomi0011e.htm
Mei ha un ceppo nel cagliaritano ed è diffuso nella fascia che comprende il bolognese, la Toscana settentrionale, le Marche ed il Lazio, Meini e Meoni sono tipicamente toscani, Meo è diffuso a macchia di leopardo nel centrosud, dovrebbero tutti derivare, direttamente o tramite ipocoristici, dalla contrazione dell'aferesi del nome Bartolomeo, in alcuni casi potrebbero essere stati originati da nomi come Romeo.