Surname Quarenghi
Origin and meaning
The surname Quarenghi has an anthroponymic origin and would derive from the medieval name Guarengus, documented in the Codice Diplomatico della Lombardia in the year 1173 in Milan.
From an etymological point of view, this name is linked with Germanic roots: on the one hand, with Warin, which can be interpreted as "defender," and on the other with the element -ing, of a patronymic or belonging value. It has also been related to the Germanic term hrings (later arengo), associated with the idea of assembly or gathering.
As in many Italian surnames of this type, the surname would have been formed from the personal name of the founder of the line, later transmitted as a hereditary surname.
Among the most notable bearers is Giacomo Quarenghi, the celebrated Italian architect who carried out much of his work in Saint Petersburg.
Variants
Geographic distribution: Quarenghi is typical of the Bergamo area. Querenghi is very rare.
📍 You can view how this surname is distributed in Italy: View distribution in Italy (Cognomix)
Sources
This entry of the Italian Surname Meanings dictionary is based on the following specialized onomastic sources:
- Rossoni, E. (2002). Origine e storia dei cognomi italiani. Retrieved from https://www.cognomiitaliani.org
- Research conducted by Surnames in Italy, the English-language project of Ancestros Italianos, based on the bibliography cited in the references.