Clemintoni

Recorded as Clemente, Clementi, Chimenti, Clementini, Clementoni, Clemintoni, De Clemente, Di Clement, and others, this is a modern Italian patronymic spelling of the Ancient Greco-Roman word and name Clemens meaning ''gracious''. It is said that ancient classical names are the greatest single source of modern European names, and that in their differing spellings they appear in every Christian country, and in a disguised form even in Islamic countries. Be that as it may the name holders are represented in modern life by the famous Italian company Clementoni, the manufacturers of the world''s largest jigsaws, some with three thousand pieces. In more ancient times coats of arms were granted to Clementi of Verone. The blazon being coupe, silver charged with a demi black boar, in base, pale - red, white and blue. This suggests a military background, the boar being indicative of ferocity, whilst Clementini of Rome has the blazon of a blue field charged with a gold chevron between three silver stars. This is religious, and may indicate high office within the Christian church. In probably all cases the name was given in honour of St Clement the First, one of St Peter''s early successors in the see of Rome. However much remains to be discovered about St Clement, in particular that he was martyrd, by being tied to an anchor and thrown into the sea. The surnames of Italy are poorly recorded before the 19th century, probably because the country was divided into a number of statelets, most of whom were poor and regularly at war with each other and particularly with Austria who claimed a large slice of the north and France which defeated Austria, and in return seized what is now known as the South of France. The first church recording may be that of Liberato de Clemente of Forli del Sannio, Campobasto, on January 21st 1569.