Variants: Calegari, Calegaris, Calegaro, Caligari, Caligaris, Caligaro, Callegari, Callegarini, Callegaris, Callegaro, Calligari, Calligaris, Calligaro, Caliari, Caliaro, Calliari, Calliaro, Calgaro Authors who studied the surname: E. De Felice, E. Rossoni, L. Lastrico, historical records and local sources Information about the surname: All of these surnames derive from the Late Latin term caligarius, which comes from caliga, the name of the Roman military boot. Over time, the term came to mean shoe in general. Caligarius was the craftsman who made or repaired footwear—in other words, a shoemaker. In many Italian regions, this occupation gave rise to occupational surnames. Even the Roman emperor Caligula received his nickname from this term, as he wore soldiers’ boots (caligae) as a child. Geographic distribution and regional forms:

• Calegari: Typically Lombard, especially in the provinces of Bergamo and Milan.
• Calegaris and Calegaro: Rare forms found in the Veneto region, particularly Verona.
• Caligari: Uncommon, found in the province of Sondrio and also between Forlì and Rimini.
• Caligaris: Found in the northwest of Italy, including Piedmont, Liguria, and western Lombardy.
• Caligaro: Unique and very rare.
• Calligaro: Specific to Udine.
• Callegari: Documented since 1200, appears in municipal records in Trieste (1850), also found in Treviso.
• Callegaro: Common in Veneto, including Rovigo, Padua, Venice, and Treviso.
• Callegaris: Very rare, found in Pavia and Trieste, likely a transcription error of Calligaris.
• Calligari: Present in Milan, Pavia, Novara, and Naples.
• Calligaris: Typical of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, especially in Udine, Gorizia, and Trieste.
• Calgaro: Linked to the area around Vicenza, with the same caligarius root.
• Caliari, Caliaro, Calliari, Calliaro: Likely contracted or dialectal forms from the same occupational origin.

Conclusion: The surnames derived from caligarius are a clear example of occupational surnames, reflecting the trade of the founders. Their morphological diversity and geographic distribution illustrate the dialectal richness of Italy and the local evolution of a common origin: the work of the shoemaker. See distribution in Italy: Cognomix - Calegari See distribution worldwide: Forebears - Calegari Sources consulted:

• De Felice, E. (1987). Dizionario dei cognomi italiani. Milan: Mondadori.
• Lastrico, L. (2019). Facciamo i cognomi. Genoa: De Ferrari.
• Rossoni, E. (2015). Origine e storia dei cognomi italiani. Digital publication.
• Municipal and parish records from Trieste, Verona, Udine, and northern Italy.