Surname Assennato
Origin and meaning
Surname that probably derives from a nickname attributed to a founding ancestor who, by his way of acting, was considered endowed with good judgement, prudence and maturity. It could also derive from a personal name that the parents gave to the child wishing for him "that he may have much judgement".
Note: Capostipite (Italian, from capo "head" + stipite from the Latin stipes "trunk") designates the founding ancestor of a lineage, the first known bearer of the surname from whom all the family branches descend. In onomastics it applies specifically to the original individual to whom the nickname, name or trade was attributed that was later fixed hereditarily as a surname.
Geographic distribution: Uncommon surname, spread across only around 50 Italian comuni, concentrated largely in Sicily between the provinces of Catania (Catania, Giarre, Gravina di Catania), Enna, Syracuse (Pachino, Syracuse, Avola, Priolo Gargallo), Caltanissetta, Palermo, Ragusa and Trapani. In the Enna area it is known in the comuni of Assoro, Leonforte, Enna, Barrafranca, Pietraperzia, Nissoria, Agira and Regalbuto. Some Assennato families are also found in Lazio, Lombardy, Tuscany, Puglia, Emilia-Romagna, Piedmont, Campania, Calabria and Veneto.
📍 You can view how this surname is distributed in Italy: View distribution in Italy (Cognomix)
Sources
This entry of the Italian Surname Meanings dictionary is based on the following specialized onomastic sources:
- Miranda, F. (2013). I cognomi di Regalbuto, Catenanuova e Centuripe. Ginevra Bentivoglio EditoriA.