The surname De Carolis is a patronymic surname meaning "son of Carlo" or "descendant of Carlo." It derives from the medieval personal name Carolus, the Latin form of Carlo, which became widespread throughout Europe due to the prestige of Charlemagne (Carolus Magnus), King of the Franks and Holy Roman Emperor.

Origin and Development

According to E. Rossoni, the prefix De- in this surname has a patronymic function and originally indicated descent from a man named Carolus. The surname therefore identified the family or descendants of an ancestor called Carlo before becoming hereditary.

R. Brondolo emphasizes that the prefix De- does not imply noble origin. Like many Italian patronymic surnames, it simply denotes family descent from a given name.

Both authors also note that, in some cases, the surname may have been assigned to abandoned or foundling children who were raised in hospitals, orphanages, or charitable institutions dedicated to Saint Charles. In such situations, the surname reflected the institution's patron saint rather than a biological ancestor.

Distribution

E. Rossoni describes De Carolis as a surname particularly characteristic of central Italy, with additional presence in the Naples area and in Puglia.

The main areas of concentration include the provinces of Ascoli Piceno, L'Aquila, Rome, Frosinone, Bari, and Brindisi.

R. Brondolo adds that the practice of assigning the surname to foundlings associated with institutions dedicated to Saint Charles was also documented in parts of northern Italy.

Summary

De Carolis is an Italian patronymic surname derived from the personal name Carlo (Carolus), ultimately popularized through the fame of Charlemagne. The surname means "descendant of Carlo" and is especially associated with central Italy. In some cases, it was also assigned to foundlings raised in charitable institutions dedicated to Saint Charles.