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- Abate
- Aiello
- Barbieri
- Ballerini
- Bonetti
- Cappitani
- Capo
- Conti
- De Santis
- Laguardia
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Pronounced uh-bayte and derived from “abbas,” the Latin wordfor priest, this name could have been given to someone who worked in a monastery or should be treated with great respect. Abba, Abato, Abbati, and Dell’Abbate are all variations.
Pronounced ay-ehloh and sometimes spelled Ajello, the name Aiello comes from the Latin agellum, or "field," and was typically bestowed upon farmers.
Another occupational name, barbieriis the Italian word for barber—so these ancestors were likely the neighborhood haircutters.
Derived from ballerino, the Italian word for dancer, this was a nickname for someone who liked to dance.
You know what a bonnet is, right? Bonetti—pronounced bon-eh-tee—means hatmaker and originated as an occupational surname.
A variation on the occupational surname Cattaneo, which means “captain” and was probably given to the leader of a large group or a ship.
The Italian word for boss, head, or chief, the surname Capo was given to people who were headstrong or a leader. Variations include Caputo, di Capo, Capone, Capi, Caponetto, or Capozzi.
If your ancestor was or worked for a count, they were likely given this name, which means “companion.”
Another family name that was given to someone who likely worked in a church setting, it is derived from the word sanctus, which means “holy” or “devout.”
Meaning “sentry” or “sentinel” in Italian, bestowed on someone who was a guard or lived by a watchtower.
Learn about the origins and meanings of common Italian surnames, from occupations to geographical locations. Find out how to pronounce, spell, and use these names for your baby, pet, character, or restaurant.
A comprehensive list of Italian surnames and their meanings, origins, and variants. Browse by letter or search by name to find the origin and history of your Italian ancestry.
- Rossi. Rossi is the plural of rosso (the colour red). Although the exact origin of the surname is still debated, we know that it is related to the red-haired or ruddy complexion of an individual, most likely the progenitor.
- Russo. Russo is most likely a southern variant of Rossi. It is a very common name throughout Southern Italy and Sicily.
- Ferrari. Ferrari is the perfect example of an occupational surname. It is the plural form of Ferraro, meaning blacksmith, with ferro being the word for iron in Italian.
- Esposito. The name Esposito (literally “exposed”) belongs to that group of Italian surnames that used to be assigned to foundlings, which were children rejected by their biological parents and abandoned at birth or at a young age.
Learn about the history, culture, and origin of Italian surnames, from common to unique. Find out the meanings of Rossi, Russo, Ferrari, Coppola, and more.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Italian-language surnames. See also: Category:Italian given names. Surnames of Italian language origin. Contents: #ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ. Subcategories. This category has the following 2 subcategories, out of 2 total. Italian occupational surnames (3 P) Italian patronymic surnames (36 P)
May 3, 2024 · May 3, 2024. Did you know that Italy, boasting 350,000 different surnames, ranks second only to France in the variety of surnames of any country in the world? Below, I share the most common Italian surnames, complete with detailed meanings and intriguing facts I’ve gathered about each.
The Cognomen - cognome in Italian, surname, or also family name or last name in English, is nowadays added to an original or baptismal name, inherited until recently along the paternal line (in Italy recent family laws allow to choose the mother's surname), and held in common by members of a family.
