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Serenelli
history of the name - storia del nome
Click here for Italian version / Cliccate qui per versione italiana
1950 family research by Maria Serenelli
(Maria was born in Castelfidardo, Ancona, Italy - January 4, 1921)
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The origin of the Serenelli Family was traced to Gandino (Italy), a village in the Seriana Valley, in the Bergamo area. The Serenelli family was successful in Bergamo and Cremona, and later in Verona. In the City of Verona the family was included in the Noble Council. From Verona the family lines expanded south in the Marche region. The earliest record in Gandino date back to the first half of the 1200's. "Antonio" (1231) and "Giuseppe" (1248) were known as rich merchants in the wool cloth trade. A few years later, we have records of "Giovani" and "Antonio" in Bergamo, land owners. These lands were devastated in 1261 during the war between Milan and Bergamo. At the end of the century the significant member of the family is "Giovan Battista Serenelli", Doctor in Law. In 1296 he was part of the Guelfi (Political Movement) who were successful in defeating the Ghibellini from Bergamo, however they were in turn defeated by the Ghibellini, assisted by Mattia Visconti, Lord of Milan, who in turn received the city for his action. In 1300 when Bergamo was under the siege of Bernabo' Visconti, the family represented by "Bartolomeo Serenelli", an aggressive Guelfo who was one of the few survivors in the exodus of 1334. In that year Bernabo' Visconti, to avenge the death of his natural, Ambrosio, who was killed by the Guelfi, ravaged the San Martino valley by killing all the inhabitants, burning the houses, including the monastery of Pontida. In the 15th Century we find an "Antonio Serenelli" is noted as a member of a delegation chosen by Bergamo, and is sent to Venice to request transfer of authority from Milan to Venice. On May 6th, he was present at the transfer of Power, which was a ceremonial transfer of the key to Girolamo Contarini. The Venice Government allowed Bergamo to retain their laws and allowed them many privileges, immunity, distinctions and one magistrate was appointed as a representative of the Venetian Government to Bergamo. In Seriana Valley we find "Paolo Serenelli", land owner, and is son "Severo" as we read in Notary Benassuti documents. A few decades later, the family name appears in the Cremona and area as well as Chiavica, in territory of Casalmaggiore. "Serenello Serenelli", Doctor of Medicine was noted in 1433. A "Rodolfo Serenelli" shows up as a witness to a document prepared by Giovanni Francesco Sfrondati, that commissions Antonio de Piattis fu Simone to sculpt a marble ark for the remains of the martyrs, Mario and Marta preserved in the church of San Lorenzo in Cremona. An excerpt of that latin document is included below:
"... Carta promissionis, obbligationis, fideiussionis et finium factarum per Rev. d. Abbatem Sancti Laurentii et fratres dei Meliis, ut infra.
In 1450 most of the family was in Verona. On August 11, 1450, in Verona we note the presence of "Bartolomeo Serenelli", son of "Sereno", who was son of "Pietro Serenelli", mentioned by Torresani, in a document notarized by Benassuti.
"XI Augusti MCCCCL Egr. vir. Bartholomeus Serenellus dei Gandino quondam Sereno qm. Domini Pauli de S. Michaele ad Portas"
Please note as mentioned in the above document the term Dominus in the 15th century was a sign of ultimate distinction In Verona, the family lived in the San Michele alla Porta area and were land and property owners registered in the Campione dell'Estimo:
From the above it appeared that the descendants of "Bartolomeo Serenelli" enjoyed similar privileges and distinguished the Serenelli's among the best economic and social families of Verona. In 1473, also appears "Santo Serenelli" son of "Serenello Serenelli di Chiavica", from the Cremona area. L'Estimo notes:
"... Sanctus quondam Serenelli de Clavica, e nel 1502: Maria uxor qm. Sanctis con Filiis de Clavica ..."
For almost a century the descendants of "Santo Serenelli" differentiates their line with "di Chiavica". From the Verona documents it is possible to reconstruct the family genealogy, and from this we see not only distinction by possessions, but also involvement in all walks of life, including Doctors in Law to Religious orders, progressing to the possession of the title of Cavalier. By obtaining particular concessions and also buying part of the lands of Lizzini warranted the family warranted the acquisition of Nobel Titles. It may be of assistance to present the Estimo (registry) in its entirety to better understand the importance of the family as described after 1502. De Serenellis, Serenelli
From this list it is clear that the family is divided in many lines and situated in various areas, and often the properties were sub-divided among family members. It may be of interest to review some of the most distinguished members of the family. In 1500 emerged "Benedetto Serenelli", excellent Mathematician, friend of Pietro Pitato. He taught mathematics at the Academy of Filarmonica. This Academy started in 1543 for music, was changed in 1547 to include advanced studies, and the teaching of various faculties of science. In 1590, "Girolamo Serenelli di Vincenzo", was famous for Literature; composing Latin Verses and Poems, showing himself a gracious poet. "Dionisi Serenelli" ( names are repeated with regularity as a means of trying to bring forth family merits and qualities to the beholder) is noted as Doctor of Law and Cavalier. This is the same "Dionisi Serenelli" listed in the Estimo in 1595, and also noted was "Claudio Serenelli", Doctor of Law and Cavalier, both who were regularly noted in the Verona Council. A "Benedetto Serenelli" (di Dionisi) was a Medical Doctor, who made studies in contagious illnesses. Many members of the family were registered in the noble council of Verona. To mention a few, "D. Franciscus" 1558, dominus "Dionysius" 1561, "Leonardus" 1573, "Dominus Claudius Eques" 1589, "Andreas" 1597, "Benedictus" 1628, "Bartholomaeus" 1696, "Joseph" 1729 and Count "Bartholomaeus" 1797. It is necessary to expand on this Council. The history of the Noble families that lived in the region, are most significantly noted and described by their involvement in the Noble Council as was the case for Verona. Common families could become Noble upon admission to the Council. This was not the only way to attain noble title. Many of the families were already noble before participation in the Council while others never participated but still held their noble titles. Some families had to wait half a century, and others several centuries to achieve a noble title. The wait to achieving the recognition was a means of controlling and screening the worthiness and integrity of the respective families. In 1517, Verona Council was reformed by the action of Doge Leonardo Loredano. From this reform started the process of accepting only families that could prove their noble ancestry or financially affluent families who had never practiced manual trades. Because of extinguished family lines, to maintain the proper number of councillors noble companies were instituted. These companies were named, Bevilaqua, Berettona, Nogarola, Vicinia and Capulata, and anyone wishing recognition had to belong to one of those companies. In 1572 there was a new and more severe reform rejecting anyone belonging to the merchant trades. From this started the use of elites, but in so doing many recognized families who had participated with their energy and economic involvement in the growth of the city were eliminated from the council. The Verona Council ceased to be Noble in the 1800's. Its is also recorded that "Giovanni Serenelli" was part of the Notary College of Verona. His signature is seen in Public and Private documents from 1690 to 1700. "Andrea Serenelli" was also registered in the Notary College as notable in judicial matters. The family had a home in Porta dei Borsari as written by Zanadreis in "Life of Verona Painters". It is indicated that the ceiling of this palace was Frescoed by the famous Francesco Lorenzi. The Serenelli's also owned the famous sculpture representing Minerva by Lorenzo Muttoni. In Verona the Serenelli's were associated with the story of the City of Verona. This is confirmed by the purchase of land made in 1791 by the brothers "Bartolomeo and Benedetto Serenelli". By the Venetian Senate decree registry of February 25th, 1792 "Bartolomeo" and "Benedetto" and descendants received the enhanced title of Counts. They were therefore confirmed Noble with sovereign resolution March 1st, 1820. "Bartolomeo Serenelli" was son of "Giuseppe Serenelli" and married the noble lady Virginia Borghetti, they had children by the name of Giuseppe, Francesco, Benedetto and 4 females. "Francesco Serenelli" (1792-1874) and Noble Angela Nichesola Benedetto (1816) had "Dionigio" (1818-1889), Carlo (1823), Virginia (1826) and Giovanna (1839). "Dionigio Serenelli" was father to "Marino" (1850), "Carlo Scipione" (1854), "Francesco" (1855-1891), "Silvia" (1858), "Umberto" (1864), "Girolamo" (1866), "Giovanna" (1848), "Maria" (1861), "Giuseppina" (1852), "Virginia" (1869). From the wedding of "Francesco Serenelli" and Countess Italia De Serego was born "Giuseppe" (1885-1938) whose sons are "Dionigio" and "Francesco" (1928-1989). The sons of "Francesco" are "Vittorio" (1961) e 5 sisters. "Vittorio" and wife Adriana have "Umberto" (1988) and "Giuseppe" (1958) sons are "Donise" and "Alberto" and they represent the descendants of the "Counts Serenelli" in Verona. A branch of the family continued their history with expansion in the Ancona area (Marche region). The old traditions were continued in Castelfidardo where their presence appear from the end of the 1700's, and maintained their elite social status. "Giovanni Serenelli" had in Castelfidardo important responsibilities and was councillor of the Mutual Help Male Society, when Mario Brandini was President, and the following were also councillors, Romeo Balestra, Nazareno Brandini, Giuseppe Colocci, Arnaldo Magliani etc. His brother "Paolo Serenelli" followed a judiciary career and was the first President of the Appeal Court of Florence. The title of Honorati (Honour) was added to his last name in recognition of his life spent in the difficult mission of justice. "Paolo's" son "Romolo Serenelli" was father to "Maria Serenelli" who died August 15th, 2001. "Maria" was mother to "Grazia Chiarello" (born in Castelfidardo, May 12th, 1944) and lives in Prato (Florence, Italy) and "Stephen Serenelli" (born in London, UK, May 10th ,1958) and currently lives in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan Canada. |
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