If you have Italian ancestors, their names reveal a lot about them. Most are patronymic—meaning they’re derived from the name of an ancestor who ruled the family.
Other surnames were descriptive, based on the traits or appearance of a person. Many of these also included an occupation—like hat makers or wool merchants.
Origin
The origin of a family name can reveal many things about a person. It can help distinguish people of the same name or point to a specific region in Italy where your ancestors may have come from. It can also reveal information about the occupation or status of your ancestor, like in the Italian genealogy records. For example, the Italian surname Coppola means ‘beret maker,’ which implies a family that made little round hats known as berets. This is a relatively common Italian surname, especially amongst soccer fans. Another famous Italian last name is Costa, which means slope or coast.’ This is a wealthy name given to those who worked for a count.
In the Middle Ages, it was common for children to receive their father’s first name as their surname. This was a way to identify people of the same family and keep the lineage intact. This technique was prevalent in most European nations at the time and was used by Italian families. This naming tradition led to the popularity of surnames such as Medici (‘of the medicine’) and De Luca (“of Lucius”).
Other ways that Italians identified themselves were by their trade or location. For example, using a profession as a surname was common and could help people in different towns or cities find each other. This is why we see names such as Cappellari for hat makers and Lanaro for wool merchants.
Meaning
The meaning of your family name can reveal a lot about who you are. Italian surnames have a variety of origins, including nicknames, physical traits, professions, places, and even personality traits. For example, if your ancestor had blond hair, they could have been called Biondi or something similar as a nickname. That nickname might have been so pronounced that it eventually became their family name. If your ancestors immigrated to the United States or Canada, their names may have been altered during the anglicization process.
Many Italian last names also feature prefixes or suffixes like “lo” and “la,” and often end in -I, -o, -ILO, -etti, -ello, or -illo that express diminutives. The practice of placing articles before names — especially those of women — is common in Italy, as well.
Some surnames are derived from occupations or physical traits, such as the Biondi above and the barber surname Barbieri. Others are based on geographic locations, such as Bulgaria or Lazio. And yet others are derived from the names of specific towns or cities, such as Naples or Palermo. Using genealogy tools to track your family’s history can help you identify these place-based Italian surnames.
Variations
Many Italian surnames have various spellings and meanings. For instance, Barbiere is a common variant of Barbieri, which means “barber.” Other variations of this surname include Barbiero, Barbera, and Barbierio.
The same goes for last names that signify ancestors’ occupations. Some examples of this are agriculture (“farmers”), pastors (shepherds), and Tagliabue (ox-cutter). These names can give you an idea of the type of landscape that may have existed in your ancestral homeland.
Some last names include a physical trait or quality, such as brown hair. Others are based on a geographic area, such as the village or town your ancestor hails from. This is a common practice in Italy, where many names signify a specific region.
Other Italian last names are derived from patronymics, which indicate that the person is the son of someone. For example, Pietro di Alberto is the Italian form of Peter, the son of Albert.
Some last names reflect a personal physical characteristic, such as wavy or curly hair. This is why this surname has many variations, including Ricci, ruff, and Ricchi. Namesakes include Christina Ricci, an American actress who was a famous Addams family star. There is also a professional basketball player named Giampaolo Ricci.
Place of Origin
During mass emigration to America, many people’s names were altered to something more American-sounding, especially those with Italian surnames. That’s why uncovering the true meaning behind your ancestor’s name is essential.
As with much of Europe, surnames began to be used in Italy in the middle ages to differentiate between those with similar first names who didn’t know each other very well. As Italy was divided into a series of states and then provinces, each area developed its unique language and dialect, likely reflected in the local surnames.
The most common place-based surnames included those that indicated a physical trait, the name of a region or province, the job of someone in the family, or a descriptive nickname. For example, Barella is derived from the word barbara or barus, which means brave. It’s also found as Baret, Barrazzo and Barelli.
Other place-based surnames refer to the name of a city or town. Leonardo da Vinci is an excellent example of this, with his last name derived from the city of Vinci. Today, you can use websites like Cognomix to map a particular surname, drill down from country to province, and then to the city on a colorful map.
