SURNAMES IN ITALY

Cycnos

This form is an altered form of the surname Cigna.

Origin and meaning

The authors agree that the surname presents its main presence in Sicily, Piedmont and Tuscany. E. Rossoni notes specific areas in Genoa, in the Florence area, in Poggibonsi —Siena area—, and in Sicily in Canicattì —Agrigento area—, Palermo, the Catania area and the Caltanissetta area. F. Miranda broadens this picture by indicating that the surname also appears in Lazio, Liguria, Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Veneto and Sardinia.

Regarding the etymology, the authors agree that the Sicilian nucleus could derive from a nickname based on the Sicilian dialectal term cinga ("girth" or strap). Miranda adds that in the other clusters the surname could be linked to the name of the first bearer, derived from the Latin Cygnus, in turn coming from the Greek Cycnos, meaning "swan".

Rossoni also mentions the variants Cigni, with presence in the Reggio Emilia area, Rimini and Tuscany, and leaves incomplete the entry corresponding to Cigno.

Variants

Altered forms and derivatives

Geographic distribution: Piedmont, Genoa, Florence area, Siena area, Sicily, Agrigento area, Palermo area, Catania area, Caltanissetta area, Reggio Emilia area, Rimini area, Tuscany

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

Comparative analysis based on 2 authors: where they agree, the hypothesis is strengthened; where they differ, the alternative interpretations are presented.

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
  • Miranda, F. (2013). I cognomi di Regalbuto, Catenanuova e Centuripe. Ginevra Bentivoglio EditoriA.