SURNAMES IN ITALY

Richelmy

This form is a variant of the surname Richelmi.

Origin and meaning

E. Rossoni derives it from the medieval name Richelmus, originated in the medieval Germanic name Richelme, formed by ric ("powerful, rich") and helm ("helmet"). He documents the name in Brescia in the 12th century.

Rossoni further distinguishes the forms: Richelmi has areas in the Cuneo and Bergamo areas; Richelmy is specific to the Turin area, with a possible influence also from the French surname Richelme.

It is considered a rare anthroponymic surname, derived from Richelm ("rich helmet, abundant protection").

Variants

Geographic distribution: Richelmi: the Cuneo and Bergamo area. Richelmy: the Turin area.

📍 You can view how this surname is distributed in Italy: View distribution in Italy (Cognomix)

Comparative analysis based on 2 authors: where they agree, the hypothesis is strengthened; where they differ, the alternative interpretations are presented.

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.