Cirillo is a patronymic surname derived from the personal name Cirillo, which ultimately comes from the Greek name Kýrillos. According to F. De Laurentiis, the name entered the Latin Christian tradition as Cyrillus and derives from the Greek word kýrios, meaning "lord," "master," or, in a religious sense, "God."

De Laurentiis therefore considers Cirillo equivalent in meaning to surnames derived from names expressing devotion to the Lord, such as Domenico. The surname originally identified the descendants of a man named Cirillo and belongs to the large group of Italian surnames derived from given names.

V. Blunda offers a slightly different interpretation, suggesting that Kýrillos may be understood as "young master," an affectionate diminutive of kýrios. According to this view, the surname developed from a familiar form of address that eventually became hereditary.

Distribution

G. Rohlfs emphasizes the Greek-Byzantine character of the surname and associates it primarily with Calabria, the Neapolitan area, and Sicilia, regions where Greek linguistic and cultural influences remained strong for centuries.

Rohlfs also notes that the form Kyrillos continues to exist as a surname in Greece.

Variants and Related Surnames

• Cirio is a related surname derived from the same personal name.
• Cirelli is another surname that Blunda associates with the same onomastic family.

Notes

A. Bongioanni highlights the important role of Christian tradition in the spread of the name. He notes that at least fifteen saints bore the name Cyril, contributing to its popularity throughout the Christian world.

Among the most influential were Saint Cyril of Alexandria (died 444), Patriarch of Alexandria and Doctor of the Church, and Saint Cyril, brother of Saint Methodius and apostle to the Slavs during the 9th century. The latter is traditionally associated with the development of the alphabet that bears his name.

The widespread veneration of these saints helped transform the personal name Cirillo into a hereditary surname, particularly in regions of southern Italy influenced by Greek and Byzantine culture.