Is Cao, De Cao, Di Cao the same family name?

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Dawn
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Joined: 03 Dec 2021, 06:48

Is Cao, De Cao, Di Cao the same family name?

Post by Dawn »

I am looking for Nicolo Cao b. 1820 Venezia Italy, parents name. I keep running into different spellings of Cao. re they still the same family name? Thanks, Dawn
Varano
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Joined: 05 May 2023, 05:06

Re: Is Cao, De Cao, Di Cao the same family name?

Post by Varano »

It could be yes. I have family who's last name sometimes ends in an i and sometimes an a.

Remember most last names originated in the 1500s as an indication of descent. For example if you have an ancestor who was Named Bruno in 1504, he could have 4 children each with a different way of indicated their new last name: di Bruno, Bruni, Brunetti, de Brunetto. Or others.

The only way to be sure in your case is to gather evidence, ie. if you can find confirmed siblings, with the same parents, spelling their surnames differently. Or better yet the same parent spelling their own name differently on different records.

Basically, its possible but you need confirmation.
darkerhorse
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Re: Is Cao, De Cao, Di Cao the same family name?

Post by darkerhorse »

Probably.

I've seen similar variations with other surnames.

De and Di (or D') would be good candidates for variations.
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