Bulgarelli is a surname of medieval ethnic origin. According to E. Rossoni, it derives from the personal names Bulgarus or Bulgarellus, which are documented from the 12th century in sources such as the Codice Diplomatico della Lombardia medievale.

These names were originally associated with the ethnonym "Bulgar" and likely arose in medieval Italy through contact with foreign groups identified as Bulgars or with populations connected to them. Over time, these personal names became hereditary surnames and gave rise to several regional variants.

F. De Laurentiis offers a related interpretation, considering Bulgarelli an altered form of a surname derived directly from the ethnonym "Bulgar," used to identify individuals associated, either actually or symbolically, with that ethnic group.

Distribution

According to Rossoni, Bulgarelli is characteristic of the area encompassing Mantova, Modena, and Ferrara, where the surname has its strongest concentration.

Variants and Related Surnames

Several regional variants developed from the same medieval onomastic root.

• Bulgarello appears to be characteristic of Veneto.
• Bulgari is concentrated mainly in the area of Brescia.
• Bulgarini is likewise associated with the Brescia area.
• Bulgarino is very rare and is documented primarily in the area of Cosenza.

Notes

The surname belongs to a group of Italian family names derived from medieval ethnic designations. Such surnames often originated as personal names or nicknames identifying a person's ancestry, geographic origin, or perceived association with a particular people or cultural group.