340 Global PERELLO Family Members

PERELLO Family History

This well known name is of medieval Italian origin, and is one of the many diminutive forms of the Italian surnames developed from the male personal name Peter. The given name is ultimately of Greek origin, from "Petros", itself derived from "petros", rock, stone, and was extremely popular throughout Christian Europe in the Middle Ages. Its popularity was due in large part to the fact that it had been bestowed by Christ as a byname on the apostle Simon bar Jonah, the brother of Andrew. St. Peter is regarded as the founding father of the Christian Church in view of Christ's comment, "Thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church".