Italian Last Names: A Comprehensive Guide to Their Origins and Meanings

Are you interested in the fascinating history and meanings behind Italian last names? This comprehensive guide will explore the diverse origins and rich symbolism behind some of the most common and unique Italian surnames. From ancient Roman roots to medieval origins and even modern adaptations, you'll discover the stories woven into the very fabric of these names.
1. **Abate:** Derived from the Latin word "abbas," meaning "father," indicating a connection to a religious figure or someone in a position of authority.
2. **Aiello:** Meaning "little pine tree," referring to a place where pine trees grew abundantly.
3. **Alberti:** A patronymic surname derived from "Alberto," a German name meaning "bright," "noble," or "famous."
4. **Alessi:** Originates from the Italian word "Alessia," meaning "defender of mankind."
5. **Amati:** A patronymic surname derived from "Amato," meaning "loved" or "beloved."
6. **Andreotti:** Derived from the Italian name "Andrea," meaning "manly" or "courageous."
7. **Angeli:** Meaning "angels," referring to someone with a pure or angelic nature.
8. **Antonelli:** A patronymic surname derived from "Antonio," meaning "priceless" or "invaluable."
9. **Armani:** Originates from the Latin word "arma," meaning "arms" or "weapons," possibly indicating a family of warriors.
10. **Avella:** A toponymical surname referring to the city of Avella in the Campania region of Italy.
11. **Baggio:** Derived from the Italian word "baggio," meaning "shallow water" or "marsh."
12. **Barone:** Meaning "baron," a title of nobility in medieval Europe.
13. **Basile:** A patronymic surname derived from the Greek name "Basil," meaning "king."
14. **Bellini:** Meaning "beautiful" or "handsome," referring to someone with a pleasing appearance.
15. **Benelli:** A patronymic surname derived from "Benedetto," meaning "blessed" or "fortunate."
16. **Bernardi:** A patronymic surname derived from "Bernardo," meaning "brave" or "strong."
17. **Bianchi:** Meaning "white," referring to someone with fair skin or light hair.
18. **Bocelli:** A patronymic surname derived from "Boccaccio," meaning "mouth" or "opening."
19. **Bonetti:** A patronymic surname derived from "Benedetto," meaning "blessed" or "fortunate."
20. **Borghese:** A toponymical surname referring to the Borghese family, who owned the Borghese Gallery in Rome.
21. **Botticelli:** Originates from the Italian word "botticella," meaning "small barrel," possibly referring to a family who made or sold barrels.
22. **Bucci:** Meaning "ox" or "bull," likely referring to a family involved in farming or cattle raising.
23. **Caldarelli:** Originates from the Italian word "caldare," meaning "boiler" or "cauldron," possibly indicating a family of blacksmiths or metalworkers.
24. **Callegari:** Derived from the Latin word "caliga," meaning "military boot," possibly referring to a family of soldiers or shoemakers.
25. **Camilli:** A patronymic surname derived from "Camillo," a Roman name meaning "youthful" or "noble."
26. **Capriotti:** Derived from the Latin word "caper," meaning "goat," possibly referring to a family who lived near a place where goats were raised.
27. **Caruso:** Meaning "dear" or "beloved," referring to someone who is cherished.
28. **Casale:** Meaning "farmhouse" or "village," referring to a family who lived in a rural area.
29. **Castelli:** Meaning "castle," referring to a family who lived near or within a castle.
30. **Cattaneo:** A patronymic surname derived from "Catano," meaning "cat."
31. **Celentano:** A patronymic surname derived from "Celestino," meaning "heavenly" or "celestial."
32. **Celli:** Meaning "cell" or "chamber," possibly referring to a family who lived in a small house or a place with a distinct room.
33. **Cesari:** A patronymic surname derived from "Cesare," a Roman name meaning "hair" or "long-haired."
34. **Cipriani:** A patronymic surname derived from "Cipriano," a name of Greek origin meaning "from Cyprus."
35. **Colombo:** Meaning "dove," referring to a family who lived near or raised doves.
36. **Contini:** A patronymic surname derived from "Contino," meaning "count" or "nobleman."
37. **Corsi:** Meaning "course" or "path," possibly referring to a family who lived near a road or a family of travelers.
38. **Costa:** Meaning "coast," referring to a family who lived near the seashore.
39. **D'Agostino:** A patronymic surname derived from "Agostino," meaning "great" or "venerable."
40. **De Angelis:** Meaning "of the angels," referring to someone with a pure or angelic nature.
41. **Della Porta:** Meaning "of the gate," referring to a family who lived near a gate or a family who had a gate-keeping function.
42. **De Luca:** Meaning "of the place," referring to a family who lived in a specific location.
43. **Di Francesco:** A patronymic surname derived from "Francesco," meaning "Frenchman."
44. **Di Marco:** A patronymic surname derived from "Marco," a Roman name meaning "dedicated to Mars."
45. **Donati:** A patronymic surname derived from "Donato," meaning "given" or "presented."
46. **Ferrari:** Meaning "ironworker," referring to a family who worked with iron or metals.
47. **Filippi:** A patronymic surname derived from "Filippo," a Greek name meaning "lover of horses."
48. **Fiore:** Meaning "flower," referring to a family who worked with flowers or lived in a place with many flowers.
49. **Fontana:** Meaning "fountain," referring to a family who lived near a fountain or a family who owned a fountain.
50. **Fortunato:** Meaning "fortunate" or "lucky."
51. **Frassica:** Derived from the Italian word "frassino," meaning "ash tree," referring to a place where ash trees grew abundantly.
52. **Galli:** Meaning "rooster," possibly referring to a family who raised roosters or a family with a rooster as a symbol.
53. **Gallo:** Meaning "rooster," possibly referring to a family who raised roosters or a family with a rooster as a symbol.
54. **Garofalo:** Meaning "clove," referring to a family who worked with cloves or a family with a clove as a symbol.
55. **Gentile:** Meaning "gentle" or "noble."
56. **Giorgi:** A patronymic surname derived from "Giorgio," meaning "farmer" or "earth worker."
57. **Giuliani:** A patronymic surname derived from "Giuliano," meaning "youthful" or "downy-bearded."
58. **Gori:** Originates from the Italian word "gora," meaning "gorge" or "ravine," referring to a place with a narrow valley.
59. **Grasso:** Meaning "fat" or "thick," possibly referring to someone who was overweight or a family with a tradition of good food.
60. **Gregori:** A patronymic surname derived from "Gregorio," meaning "vigilant" or "alert."
61. **Guadagno:** Meaning "gain" or "profit," possibly referring to a family who was successful in business.
62. **Iannucci:** A patronymic surname derived from "Giovanni," meaning "God is gracious."
63. **Innamorato:** Meaning "in love" or "lover," referring to a romantic or passionate person.
64. **Laurenti:** A patronymic surname derived from "Lorenzo," meaning "laurel tree."
65. **Leone:** Meaning "lion," referring to someone with courage or strength.
66. **Levi:** Meaning "joined" or "connected," possibly referring to a family who was part of a larger group.
67. **Libero:** Meaning "free" or "independent."
68. **Lombardo:** Referring to someone from Lombardy, a region in northern Italy.
69. **Longo:** Meaning "long," referring to someone who was tall or a family who lived near a long road.
70. **Lorenzini:** A patronymic surname derived from "Lorenzo," meaning "laurel tree."
71. **Luciani:** A patronymic surname derived from "Luciano," meaning "light" or "luminous."
72. **Lucidi:** Meaning "bright" or "shining," referring to someone with a radiant personality.
73. **Maddalena:** Derived from the Italian name "Maddalena," a biblical name meaning "woman from Magdala."
74. **Maggio:** Meaning "May," referring to someone born in the month of May or a family with a special connection to the month of May.
75. **Maltese:** Referring to someone from Malta, an island nation in the Mediterranean Sea.
76. **Mancini:** Meaning "sleeve" or "hand," possibly referring to a family of tailors or a family with a skilled hand.
77. **Marchese:** Meaning "marquis," a title of nobility in medieval Europe.
78. **Marchetti:** A patronymic surname derived from "Marco," a Roman name meaning "dedicated to Mars."
79. **Marino:** Meaning "from the sea," referring to a family who lived near the sea or a family with a seafaring tradition.
80. **Martini:** A patronymic surname derived from "Martino," meaning "dedicated to Mars."
81. **Mastrantonio:** Meaning "master Anthony," referring to someone who was a skilled craftsman or a leader.
82. **Mattei:** A patronymic surname derived from "Matteo," meaning "gift of God."
83. **Mauri:** A patronymic surname derived from "Mauro," a Greek name meaning "dark" or "black."
84. **Mazzei:** Originates from the Italian word "mazzo," meaning "bundle" or "bunch," possibly referring to a family who worked with bundles of goods.
85. **Melchiorri:** A patronymic surname derived from "Melchiorre," a biblical name meaning "king of light."
86. **Merli:** Meaning "blackbird," referring to a family who lived near or raised blackbirds.
87. **Micheli:** A patronymic surname derived from "Michele," a Hebrew name meaning "who is like God?"
88. **Migliore:** Meaning "better" or "superior," referring to someone who was considered to be exceptional.
89. **Milano:** A toponymical surname referring to the city of Milan, a major city in northern Italy.
90. **Minervini:** A patronymic surname derived from "Minerva," a Roman goddess of wisdom and warfare.
91. **Molinari:** Meaning "miller," referring to a family who worked in a mill.
92. **Morelli:** A patronymic surname derived from "Morello," meaning "dark" or "black."
93. **Mosca:** Meaning "fly," possibly referring to a family who lived near or had a connection to flies.
94. **Neri:** Meaning "black," referring to someone with dark hair or skin.
95. **Nobile:** Meaning "noble" or "gentle."
96. **Novelli:** A patronymic surname derived from "Novello," meaning "new" or "young."
97. **O'Connor:** An Irish surname meaning "descendant of Conn," an ancient Irish king.
98. **Oliveri:** A patronymic surname derived from "Oliviero," meaning "olive tree."
99. **Orlando:** A patronymic surname derived from "Orlando," a Germanic name meaning "famous in glory."
100. **Pagano:** Meaning "pagan," referring to someone who was not Christian.
101. **Palumbo:** Meaning "dove," referring to a family who lived near or raised doves.
102. **Panariello:** Originates from the Italian word "panaro," meaning "baker," referring to a family of bakers.
103. **Parente:** Meaning "relative" or "kin," referring to someone who is part of a family or clan.
104. **Pasquale:** A patronymic surname derived from "Pasquale," meaning "Easter."
105. **Pastore:** Meaning "shepherd," referring to a family who worked as shepherds or a family who lived in a pastoral area.
106. **Paterno:** Meaning "fatherly" or "patriarchal," referring to a family with a strong patriarch or a family who valued tradition.
107. **Pellegrino:** Meaning "pilgrim," referring to a family who traveled for religious reasons.
108. **Peretti:** A patronymic surname derived from "Pietro," meaning "stone" or "rock."
109. **Pesce:** Meaning "fish," referring to a family who lived near the sea or a family with a fishing tradition.
110. **Piccirillo:** Meaning "small" or "little," referring to someone who was small in stature or a family who lived in a small place.
111. **Pierini:** A patronymic surname derived from "Pierino," a diminutive form of "Pietro," meaning "stone" or "rock."
112. **Pirozzi:** Originates from the Italian word "piro," meaning "fire," possibly referring to a family of blacksmiths or a family who lived near a place where fires were common.
113. **Pisano:** Referring to someone from Pisa, a city in Tuscany, Italy.
114. **Polito:** Meaning "polite" or "refined," referring to someone with good manners.
115. **Pompei:** A toponymical surname referring to the ancient Roman city of Pompeii.
116. **Porta:** Meaning "gate," referring to a family who lived near a gate or a family who had a gate-keeping function.
117. **Provenzano:** Meaning "coming from Provence," a region in southeastern France.
118. **Puccini:** Originates from the Italian word "puccino," meaning "little woodpecker," possibly referring to a family who lived near a place where woodpeckers were common.
119. **Quattrociocchi:** Meaning "four eyes," possibly referring to someone with prominent eyes or a family with a unique physical characteristic.
120. **Ragozzino:** Meaning "little boy," referring to someone who was young or a family with a tradition of having many children.
121. **Rinaldi:** A patronymic surname derived from "Rinaldo," a Germanic name meaning "counsel" or "advice."
122. **Riva:** Meaning "riverbank," referring to a family who lived near a river.
123. **Rizzo:** Meaning "curly," referring to someone with curly hair or a family with a distinctive hair style.
124. **Roberto:** A patronymic surname derived from "Roberto," a Germanic name meaning "bright fame."
125. **Romano:** Meaning "Roman," referring to someone from ancient Rome or a family with a Roman heritage.
126. **Rossi:** Meaning "red," referring to someone with red hair or a family with a distinctive hair color.
127. **Russo:** Meaning "red," referring to someone with red hair or a family with a distinctive hair color.
128. **Salvatore:** A patronymic surname derived from "Salvatore," meaning "savior."
129. **Sanfilippo:** Meaning "Saint Philip," referring to a family who was devoted to Saint Philip.
130. **Santoro:** Meaning "holy" or "sacred," referring to someone who is considered to be devout.
131. **Scarpelli:** Meaning "shoemaker," referring to a family who made shoes.
132. **Schiavone:** Meaning "slave," possibly referring to a family who had been enslaved in the past or a family with a connection to slavery.
133. **Scotto:** Meaning "Scot," referring to someone from Scotland or a family with Scottish ancestry.
134. **Serra:** Meaning "saw," referring to a family who worked with saws or a family who lived near a saw mill.
135. **Silvestri:** A patronymic surname derived from "Silvestro," meaning "from the forest."
136. **Simeone:** A patronymic surname derived from "Simone," a Hebrew name meaning "God has heard."
137. **Sorrentino:** A toponymical surname referring to the town of Sorrento, a coastal town in southern Italy.
138. **Spina:** Meaning "thorn" or "spine," possibly referring to a family who lived near a place with thorns or a family with a unique physical characteristic.
139. **Stella:** Meaning "star," referring to someone who is bright or shining or a family with a star as a symbol.
140. **Testa:** Meaning "head," referring to someone who was considered to be a leader or a family with a strong patriarch.
141. **Tiberi:** A patronymic surname derived from "Tiberio," a Roman name meaning "from the Tiber River."
142. **Tognazzi:** Originates from the Italian word "togna," meaning "cloak," possibly referring to a family who made or sold cloaks.
143. **Tommasi:** A patronymic surname derived from "Tommaso," meaning "twin."
144. **Torre:** Meaning "tower," referring to a family who lived near a tower or a family who had a connection to a tower.
145. **Valente:** Meaning "brave" or "strong," referring to someone who was considered to be courageous.
146. **Vannucci:** A patronymic surname derived from "Giovanni," meaning "God is gracious."
147. **Ventura:** Meaning "good fortune" or "luck," referring to someone who was considered to be blessed.
148. **Verdi:** Meaning "green," referring to someone with green eyes or hair or a family who lived in a place with abundant greenery.
149. **Vignali:** Originates from the Italian word "vigna," meaning "vineyard," referring to a family who worked in a vineyard.
150. **Villani:** Meaning "villagers," referring to a family who lived in a village.
151. **Vinci:** Meaning "to conquer" or "to overcome," referring to someone who was successful or a family with a history of achievement.
152. **Visconti:** A patronymic surname derived from "Viconte," meaning "viscount," a title of nobility in medieval Europe.
153. **Vitali:** A patronymic surname derived from "Vitale," meaning "life" or "living."
154. **Zito:** Meaning "citizen," referring to someone who was a member of a city or town.
155. **Zois:** A patronymic surname derived from "Zosimo," meaning "life-giving."