Surname Mari - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
Mari: What does the surname Mari mean?
The surname Mari, also known as Marri or Marie in different regions, can have several meanings depending on its ethnic or geographic origin. In Italian, Mari means 'of the sea', derived from the Latin word 'mare'. Among the Basques, Mari is a mythological figure representing Mother Earth. In Catalan tradition, the name is often considered an abbreviation of 'Maria', which was frequently used in past centuries. Some sources also relate this surname to a Gallo-Roman derivatives of the pre-Roman personal name 'Marus'. In Japanese tradition, meanings can range from 'truth', 'long distance', or 'ball' based on different kanji while in Estonian, 'Mari' is a popular female first name. Moreover, in the Arabic context, 'Mar'i' translates as 'seen' or 'observable'. The surname Mari also appears in Indian Sindhi and Punjabi communities, possibly deriving from an occupational reference. Therefore, the meaning of Mari varies significantly across different cultures and languages.
Order DNA origin analysisMari: Where does the name Mari come from?
The surname Mari has multiple origins. It is found in various cultures and regions worldwide. One of its origins is from the Mediterranean region, particularly from Catalonia in Spain and Italy, where it's a diminutive of the given name Maria. It's common in these regions even today. In Basque Country, Spain, Mari is a popular surname; here, it is derived from the name of an important character in Basque mythology. In India, particularly in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Mari is the name of a Hindu goddess and is found as both a personal name and a surname. The surname is also found in Japan, where it's usually written with kanji that mean "real, genuine" and "reason, logic". It might have originated from the Ainu ethnic group’s language, where Mari means "truth". Therefore, despite the same spelling, the name doesn't have the same roots or meanings in all countries. Today, it's common in the countries stated above. Furthermore, due to migrations, it's found in communities of the diaspora from these regions, including in the United States among others.
Variations of the surname Mari
The surname Mari has roots in various cultures including Italian, Spanish, French, Catalan, and Basque. As a result, it has multiple variations and connected surnames depending on the region.
In Italian, some notable variants include De Mari, Di Mari, Mariotti, Marietti, Mariottini, Mariani, Marion, Mariuzzo, and Mariutti. In the French, Catalan, and Basque regions, it may take forms like Marie, Mariat, Marit, Maris, Marix, or Marió.
In Spain, variations such as Marí, Mariño, Mariano, and Marías could be found. Some Spanish surnames such as Soledad, Trías, Bernadette also derive from the reference to Virgin Mary as 'Mari'.
It is also worth mentioning that due to regional pronunciations and accents, the surname can sometimes be spelled phonetically, resulting in different iterations such as Maury, Mauri, or Mury in different areas.
Remember that surname variants can also be created by adding prefixes or suffixes, or through conjugation over time and generations. However, without specific genealogical research, it is difficult to determine all the potential variants or connected surnames for Mari.
Famous people with the name Mari
- Giuseppe Mari: An Italian football defender who played for S.S.C. Napoli, U.S. Avellino 1912, Venezia, A.S.G. Nocerina and A.S. Mastronzo.
- Gianluca Marzio: An Italian volleyball player who has won the Italian League Championship, CEV Cup, FIVB Volleyball Club World Championship, Volleyball Champions Cup, Volleyball World Cup, and the European Championship.
- Caterina Mari: An opera singer, pianist, vocal coach and choir director from Italy.
- Dante Mari: An Italian track and field athlete specialized in the 400 metres and 800 metres. He won silver at the Mediterranean Games, and competed at the 2016 IAAF World Indoor Championships.
- Giovanna Mari: An Italian Olympic swimmer who competed at the 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics and won the bronze medal in the 200 metre breaststroke in 2004.
- Annamaria Mari: An Italian Olympic fencer who competed in the individual foil event at the 1972 and 1976 Summer Olympics.
- Giovanna di Mari: An Italian fire fighter who was awarded the honor of the Medal of Honor by the United States Fire Administration for her life saving efforts in the aftermath of the April 6 earthquake in L'Aquila city.
- Pasquale Mari: An Italian cinematographer and television director.
- Massimo Mari: An Italian business executive, as well as a former board member and Vice President of Telecom Italia and a former board member and CFO of Juventus F.C.
- Imelda Mari: An Italian entrepreneur and philanthropist, best known for founding the insurance and financial services company IMA Selection.