Fei is an Italian surname that most likely derives from the personal name Feo, itself a shortened form of Maffeo, a medieval variant of Matteo. In this sense, Fei originally identified the descendants of an ancestor named Feo or Maffeo.

Origin and Etymology

E. Rossoni proposes that the surname originated from an apocopated form of the name Maffeo, a process by which the final part of a name is dropped, producing the shorter form Feo. Over time, this personal name became hereditary as a surname.

F. De Laurentiis agrees with this interpretation and explains that Feo is a hypocoristic form created through aphaeresis from Maffeo, which in turn derives from Matteo.

De Laurentiis also proposes an alternative hypothesis. According to this view, the surname may derive from the medieval term feudo ("fief"), referring to a landed estate granted by a sovereign or feudal lord to a vassal. Under this interpretation, the surname could have identified people who lived on or worked within such a feudal domain.

Distribution in Italy

Both authors associate the surname primarily with Toscana. According to Rossoni, the surname is especially concentrated in:

• Firenze
• Arezzo

He also records notable presence in:

• Roma
• Rocca di Papa (Lazio)

The surname therefore remains strongly linked to central Italy, particularly Tuscany.

Summary

Fei is most commonly considered a patronymic surname derived from Feo, a shortened form of Maffeo, itself a medieval variant of Matteo. An alternative theory connects it with the medieval word feudo, referring to a feudal estate. The surname is especially characteristic of Tuscany, particularly the provinces of Firenze and Arezzo.