Castagna is a surname derived from the Italian word castagna ("chestnut") and the related term castagno ("chestnut tree"). According to E. De Felice and E. Rossoni, it may have originated as an occupational nickname for someone involved in gathering, drying, transporting, or selling chestnuts, an activity of considerable importance in many rural areas of Italy.

The surname may also have a toponymic origin, deriving from places named Castagna, Castagno, Castagneto, or Castagnola, all of which are connected with chestnut groves and are widely found throughout central and northern Italy.

Distribution

According to E. De Felice, Castagna is widespread throughout Italy. The surname and its related forms are particularly common in regions where chestnut cultivation historically played an important economic role.

The variant Castangia is characteristic of Sardegna.

Variants and Related Surnames

Castagna belongs to a large family of surnames derived from the same lexical and toponymic root.

• Castagnola is especially common in Liguria.
• Castagnetti is concentrated in Emilia, particularly in the province of Modena.
• Castagnini is found mainly in the area of Verona and in Emilia.
• Castagnino is associated with the area of Genova and also with the province of Crotone.
• Castagno is characteristic of the provinces of Cuneo and Torino, as well as the areas of Avellino and Salerno.
• Castagnone is typical of Piemonte, with a notable presence in Casale Monferrato.
• Castagnoni is concentrated in the province of Pavia.
• Castangia is a Sardinian variant of the surname.

Notes

De Felice notes that the related surname Castagnola has a particularly long history in Liguria. A Latin form, Castaneolus, is already documented in Genova in 1052, providing early evidence of the surname family's medieval origins.

Rossoni also points out that some branches may derive from specific place names such as Castagneto, found in the areas of Modena and Reggio Emilia, and Castegnato, in the province of Brescia.

The surname reflects the historical importance of chestnut cultivation in Italy, where chestnuts served for centuries as a staple food and a valuable commercial product in many mountain and rural communities.