Surnames also known as family names or last names are so commonly used nowadays, but do you know that all surnames have a deep-rooted meaning to them. The aim to add a surname was to distinguish two individuals with the same family name. There are surnames which describe the occupation of a person, whereas some surnames are linked to the individual's place of origin.
Before we know the meanings of Italian surnames, we will like to tell you that most of the surnames in Italy were categorized mostly by the occupation, location, character and patronym of the individual. For example, surnames like Zappa usually referred to someone from the farmer's family, whereas Da Vinci implied that the person lived in the region of Vinci. Similarly Montana was the surname of someone who lived near the mountains, and Poccoli meant a short-heighted person. It is not only the Italian surnames that describe the characteristics of a person, but most of the English surnames like Cook, Farmer, Baker also have been coined to reflect the occupation of the individual. Let us now take a look at some common Italian last names and their meanings.
Meaning of Italian Surnames
Abandonato
Forsaken
Abatangelo, Abatantuono, Abatescianni, Abbà
Preist
Abelli
A Pyrenean God in the Roman times
Acciai
Axe-man
Acciari, Acciaro, Acciaroli
Steel maker/Axe maker
Acerbi, Acerbo, Acerbo
Cruel
Acqua
Carrier of water
Acquafredda, Acquarone, Acquati
A person from Acquafredda (a place in Italy)
Adelardi
Noble and hard-working
Adriatico
Dweller of the Adriatic sea
Affini
In-law
Africani
From/of Africa
Agresta
Rural, simple
Agrioli
Farmer
Aiolfi, Aiolfo
Featured like a wolf
Aita
From Aita, Italy
Alamanni
From Germany
Albini, Albinoni, Albino
Someone with light colored hair/skin
Arcelli, Arcellone, Arcelloni, Arcellaio
Bow-makers
Arcaini, Arcari, Arcaro
Craftsmen dealing with wood
Armani
Son of Armato
Azzarà
From southern Italy
Bacco
Wine trader/someone who worked in a vineyard
Bagni
Public bath attendant
Balestra, Balestrini
Crossbow maker/soldier
Ballarini, Ballarino
Acclaimed dancers
Baldi
Brave/bold
Barbieri
Barber
Basso
Short-heighted
Basurto
In the middle of a forest
Bello
Beautiful
Bellomi
Beautiful man
Belmonte
Beautiful man
Benenati
Born good
Bergamaschi
From the city of Bergamo, Lombardy
Bianchi
White-haired or pale
Bicchieri
Drinking glasses
Biondi
Fair-haired
Bologna
From the city of Bologna in southern Italy
Borgnino
Blind in one eye/Squinting
Bosco
Forest
Breda
From Breda in Venice
Bruno
Brown
Buffone
Professional clown employed to entertain the king
Buonarroti
Good increase
Cacciatore
Hunters
Caiazzo
From the city of Caiazzo, near Naples
Caito
Leader, official, judge
Calligaris
Shoemaker
Cantu
From the town near Como, Lombardy
Capello (1)
Someone who made or wore cloaks
Capello (2)
Trickster
Caro
Beloved
Carriere, Carriero
Wagon-driver
Caruso
Shop-boy
Castro
One who lives near a castle
Catalano
From the Spanish region Catalonia
Cavalcante
To ride
Cavallo
Horse
Colombera
Dove/a place where doves were held
Corti
Court
Corvi
Crow
Costa
Riverbank/a person who lives near a riverbank
Crespo
A person with curly hair
Dal Monte
From the mountains
D'Amore
A symbol of love
D'Angelo
Son of Angelo (Angel)
De Campo
From a place near Campo
De Palma
From the palm tree
De Rege
The king
Di Caprio
From the island of Capri, near Naples
Di Corrado
Courageous person/one who can take decisions in crisis
Di Mercurio
Son of God Mercury
Di Salvo, Di Salvio
Saved by earth
Durante
A stubborn person
Episcopo
Bishop
Fabbri, Ferrari, Ferraro, Ferrero
Blacksmith
Fattore
Land agent on a farm
Faraldo
Unknown
Fiore
Flower
Fontana
From the fountain
Franzese
Frenchman
Franci, Francescato, Francescotti
Inhabitant of France
Gagliardi
Very strong
Gentile
Kind, noble
Greco
From Greece
Gronchi
A numb person
Guerra
One who is eager to indulge in warfare
Guttuso
A sad person
Idoni
A fit person
Innocenti
Innocent
Laguardia
Sentry/Sentinel
Lamon
From the city of Belluno, Venice
Leggièri
Not serious, superficial
Maestri
Master
Magro
Thin, lean
Manco
Left-handed
Marmo
Marble
Merlo
Blackbird (a symbol of naïve person)
Milano
From the city of Milan, Italy
Mondadori
Fleece selector
Naggi
From the town of Naggi in Italy
Nasato
Someone with a prominent nose
Negri
Someone with dark hair or dark skin
Nicchi
People related to the sea
Orsini
Little bear
Palladino
Knight
Palumbo
Pigeon
Panzavecchia
Old stomach
Parodi
From the name of a village in Genoa, Italy
Parrino
Godfather
Paternoster
Opening words of a prayer
Pavoni
Proud or an arrogant person
Pecora
Flock
Pellegrino
Little pilgrim
Pesce
Fisherman
Piccoli
Dwarf/short
Pisani
From Pisa in Tuscany
Poggio
Dweller on a hill
Porto
Someone who lives near a harbor
Quattrocchi
From the family of judges and barons
Ragno
Spider
Rana
Frog
Ratti
Sly individual
Ricci
Someone with curly hair
Rossi
Red-haired person
Sabbadin
Someone born on a Saturday
Sala
Worker at a manor house
Santoro
Someone born on "All Saints Day"
Sapienti
Wise
Sarto
Tailor
Scarsi
Poor/miserly
Sciarra
A quarrelsome person
Serpico
Serpent, reptile
Tafani
An annoying person
Tamboia
A drummer
Tedesco
German
Terranova
New land
Uccello
Bird
Vacca
A person who worked with the cattle
Veronesi
From the city of Verona
Vinci
From Vinci near Florence
Zangari
Shoemaker, boot-maker
Zappa
An agricultural worker
These were some of the Italian surnames and their meanings. Some of the famous Italian last names are Di Vinci, Di Caprio, Agessi, Dante, De Niro, Langello etc. Italians have made their presence felt in almost all fields and are one of the most successful communities worldwide. This was all we had about Italian surname meanings. We hope this information is useful to you.
Before we know the meanings of Italian surnames, we will like to tell you that most of the surnames in Italy were categorized mostly by the occupation, location, character and patronym of the individual. For example, surnames like Zappa usually referred to someone from the farmer's family, whereas Da Vinci implied that the person lived in the region of Vinci. Similarly Montana was the surname of someone who lived near the mountains, and Poccoli meant a short-heighted person. It is not only the Italian surnames that describe the characteristics of a person, but most of the English surnames like Cook, Farmer, Baker also have been coined to reflect the occupation of the individual. Let us now take a look at some common Italian last names and their meanings.
Meaning of Italian Surnames
Abandonato
Forsaken
Abatangelo, Abatantuono, Abatescianni, Abbà
Preist
Abelli
A Pyrenean God in the Roman times
Acciai
Axe-man
Acciari, Acciaro, Acciaroli
Steel maker/Axe maker
Acerbi, Acerbo, Acerbo
Cruel
Acqua
Carrier of water
Acquafredda, Acquarone, Acquati
A person from Acquafredda (a place in Italy)
Adelardi
Noble and hard-working
Adriatico
Dweller of the Adriatic sea
Affini
In-law
Africani
From/of Africa
Agresta
Rural, simple
Agrioli
Farmer
Aiolfi, Aiolfo
Featured like a wolf
Aita
From Aita, Italy
Alamanni
From Germany
Albini, Albinoni, Albino
Someone with light colored hair/skin
Arcelli, Arcellone, Arcelloni, Arcellaio
Bow-makers
Arcaini, Arcari, Arcaro
Craftsmen dealing with wood
Armani
Son of Armato
Azzarà
From southern Italy
Bacco
Wine trader/someone who worked in a vineyard
Bagni
Public bath attendant
Balestra, Balestrini
Crossbow maker/soldier
Ballarini, Ballarino
Acclaimed dancers
Baldi
Brave/bold
Barbieri
Barber
Basso
Short-heighted
Basurto
In the middle of a forest
Bello
Beautiful
Bellomi
Beautiful man
Belmonte
Beautiful man
Benenati
Born good
Bergamaschi
From the city of Bergamo, Lombardy
Bianchi
White-haired or pale
Bicchieri
Drinking glasses
Biondi
Fair-haired
Bologna
From the city of Bologna in southern Italy
Borgnino
Blind in one eye/Squinting
Bosco
Forest
Breda
From Breda in Venice
Bruno
Brown
Buffone
Professional clown employed to entertain the king
Buonarroti
Good increase
Cacciatore
Hunters
Caiazzo
From the city of Caiazzo, near Naples
Caito
Leader, official, judge
Calligaris
Shoemaker
Cantu
From the town near Como, Lombardy
Capello (1)
Someone who made or wore cloaks
Capello (2)
Trickster
Caro
Beloved
Carriere, Carriero
Wagon-driver
Caruso
Shop-boy
Castro
One who lives near a castle
Catalano
From the Spanish region Catalonia
Cavalcante
To ride
Cavallo
Horse
Colombera
Dove/a place where doves were held
Corti
Court
Corvi
Crow
Costa
Riverbank/a person who lives near a riverbank
Crespo
A person with curly hair
Dal Monte
From the mountains
D'Amore
A symbol of love
D'Angelo
Son of Angelo (Angel)
De Campo
From a place near Campo
De Palma
From the palm tree
De Rege
The king
Di Caprio
From the island of Capri, near Naples
Di Corrado
Courageous person/one who can take decisions in crisis
Di Mercurio
Son of God Mercury
Di Salvo, Di Salvio
Saved by earth
Durante
A stubborn person
Episcopo
Bishop
Fabbri, Ferrari, Ferraro, Ferrero
Blacksmith
Fattore
Land agent on a farm
Faraldo
Unknown
Fiore
Flower
Fontana
From the fountain
Franzese
Frenchman
Franci, Francescato, Francescotti
Inhabitant of France
Gagliardi
Very strong
Gentile
Kind, noble
Greco
From Greece
Gronchi
A numb person
Guerra
One who is eager to indulge in warfare
Guttuso
A sad person
Idoni
A fit person
Innocenti
Innocent
Laguardia
Sentry/Sentinel
Lamon
From the city of Belluno, Venice
Leggièri
Not serious, superficial
Maestri
Master
Magro
Thin, lean
Manco
Left-handed
Marmo
Marble
Merlo
Blackbird (a symbol of naïve person)
Milano
From the city of Milan, Italy
Mondadori
Fleece selector
Naggi
From the town of Naggi in Italy
Nasato
Someone with a prominent nose
Negri
Someone with dark hair or dark skin
Nicchi
People related to the sea
Orsini
Little bear
Palladino
Knight
Palumbo
Pigeon
Panzavecchia
Old stomach
Parodi
From the name of a village in Genoa, Italy
Parrino
Godfather
Paternoster
Opening words of a prayer
Pavoni
Proud or an arrogant person
Pecora
Flock
Pellegrino
Little pilgrim
Pesce
Fisherman
Piccoli
Dwarf/short
Pisani
From Pisa in Tuscany
Poggio
Dweller on a hill
Porto
Someone who lives near a harbor
Quattrocchi
From the family of judges and barons
Ragno
Spider
Rana
Frog
Ratti
Sly individual
Ricci
Someone with curly hair
Rossi
Red-haired person
Sabbadin
Someone born on a Saturday
Sala
Worker at a manor house
Santoro
Someone born on "All Saints Day"
Sapienti
Wise
Sarto
Tailor
Scarsi
Poor/miserly
Sciarra
A quarrelsome person
Serpico
Serpent, reptile
Tafani
An annoying person
Tamboia
A drummer
Tedesco
German
Terranova
New land
Uccello
Bird
Vacca
A person who worked with the cattle
Veronesi
From the city of Verona
Vinci
From Vinci near Florence
Zangari
Shoemaker, boot-maker
Zappa
An agricultural worker
These were some of the Italian surnames and their meanings. Some of the famous Italian last names are Di Vinci, Di Caprio, Agessi, Dante, De Niro, Langello etc. Italians have made their presence felt in almost all fields and are one of the most successful communities worldwide. This was all we had about Italian surname meanings. We hope this information is useful to you.
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