Fidelus

Recorded in a number of spellings including Fedele, Fidelus, Fidelli, Fidilis, and probably others, this is a surname of truly ancient Roman (Latin) origins. It is one of a wide group known as Desirable as against Undesireable. Both groups were pre-medieval nicknames, and given the robust humour of the period it has to be considered that either could mean the opposite of what the name appears to stand for. Not surprisingly though, today in the 21st century there are many more surviving desireable names than the reverse! Fedele does translate as trustworthy, faithfull, or kind, and as a Fidulatore meant a guarantor, and hence was a professional position, it would seem that holders of the surname were held in similar esteem. Not surprisingly the name was spread wherever the Roman Catholic faith in particular was to be found, and it would seem that as the Comtes Fedelli it is was recorded as an armorial surname in Milano (Per fesse gold and red, charged with a dragon in gold), and as Fidelus it was recorded in Poland and possibly Romania. Unfortunately in both countries, early recordings, that is before the 20th century, are not easy to find, as for many centuries they were subjected to continual war - civil and international.