This interesting and unusual name is of Italian origin and is the patronymic form of "Lelli", itself the aphetic form of a diminutive, from various medieval given names, as for example Angelo, and Gabriello. Lello is generally found with the prefix "Di", of, meaning in this ease "(son) of", or "(descendant) of". Many Italian surnames are derived from given names, and a common alteration is, as in (Di) Lello, to create these aphetic derivatives by removing the first syllable. Among the recordings in Italy is the birth of one, Felice Di Lello on December 22nd 1652 at Vastogirardi, Campobasso, and in London, the christening of Mary Lello on October 23rd 1660 at St. Mary, Whitechapel. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Thomas Lellowe (marriage to Elizabeth West), which was dated June 25th 1639, St. Dunstan's Stepney, London, during the reign of King Charles 1, "The Martyr", 1625 - 1649. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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