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- 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.
Nov 4, 2019 · The origins of Italian surnames vary. Many are derived from the names of people, places, professions, or nicknames, and most originated in the Middle Ages when the practice largely started. A large number of Italian surnames end in the letter i, due to the medieval Italian habit of identifying families by the name of the ancestors in the plural.
- Michael San Filippo
- Origins of Italian Last Names
- Italian Emigration and Surname Changes
- Common Italian Last Names and Surname Distribution Maps
Italian surnames generally come in a few main categories as far as their origins are concerned. 1. Patronymics (The surname comes from an ancestor’s first name)—d’Alberto, d’Angelo, d’Alessi 2. Geographical areas—Lombardo, Di Genova, Napolitano 3. Descriptives or Nicknames—Franco, Betto, Zello, Gambino 4. Occupations—Ferraro, Carpenteri, Muratori S...
If you have Italian immigrants among your ancestors, their names could have been changed as they assimilated into their new home country. A common surname such as Russo could have become anglicized or changed to become Russe, Russa, Russell, or even Russ. A surname could also have been translated into English directly from Italian. Examples include...
Understanding the meaning and origin of your surname can help you not only distinguish between families of the same name, but in Italy it could be a key to locating an exact place of origin for your ancestors. Why? Simply put, because certain surnames exist only in certain localities in Italy or are more commonplace to specific regions of the count...
Oct 18, 2023 · Place names like Napoli and Fiorentino indicate ancestral origins. While most surnames originated in the Middle Ages, some rare surnames date back to Ancient Rome, like Corvo, Floro, and Tusco. The most widespread surnames across Italy are Rossi, Russo, Ferrari, and Bianchi.
Feb 4, 2018 · Kimberly Powell. Updated on February 04, 2018. Surnames in Italy trace their origin back to the 1400s, when it became necessary to add a second name to distinguish between individuals with the same given name. Italian surnames are often easy to recognize because most end in a vowel, and many of them have been derived from descriptive nicknames.
- Kimberly Powell
Italian surnames derived from the name Giovanni (John in English) – A large number of Italian surnames derive from first names with a Latin origin. Italian surnames derived from the name Domenico. Italian last names derived from the name Antonio. Surnames of Orphans and Foundlings.
Mar 7, 2018 · Italian last names typically arose from geographic location, description, patronym, or trade. There's one other source that deserves mention, though, especially considering how prevalent the last name is. Esposito, literally meaning 'exposed' (from the Latin expositus, past participle of exponere 'to place outside') is a Italian surname ...
