Decoding Italian Surnames

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 … [Read more...] about Decoding Italian Surnames – What They Reveal About Your Ancestry