SURNAMES IN ITALY

Balosso

This form is a variant of the surname Balossi.

Origin and meaning

According to E. Rossoni, this surname and its variants derive, directly or through affectionate forms, from the dialectal nickname baloss, meaning "rascal" or "little rogue". Other authors hold that it derives from the dialectal word balòss, "someone who knows what he is doing", from the name of the Celtic god of death Balor (balo, "torment").

Variants

Geographic distribution: Balossi: Lombard, concentrated mainly in the provinces of Como and Milan. Balosso and Balossini: Varese area. Balossino: apparently Piedmontese

📍 You can view how this surname is distributed in Italy: View distribution in Italy (Cognomix)

This entry brings together what 2 authors propose about the origin of the surname. In some cases they agree and reinforce a single hypothesis; in others, they contribute different views worth considering.

Sources

This entry of the Italian Surname Meanings dictionary is based on the following specialized onomastic sources:

  • Rossoni, E. (2002). Origine e storia dei cognomi italiani. Retrieved from https://www.cognomiitaliani.org
  • Research conducted by Surnames in Italy, the English-language project of Ancestros Italianos, based on the bibliography cited in the references.