SURNAMES IN ITALY

Surname Lagorio

Origin and meaning

Scholars agree that this surname is characteristic of Liguria and derives from a nickname connected to the lizard in the Ligurian dialect. E. De Felice specifies that it reflects the Italian adaptation of a jocular nickname formed from lagò', the Ligurian dialectal word for the lizard. E. Rossoni agrees on the dialect origin and notes that the base form would be lagö, identifying the referent as a species of large lizard.

It is further recorded that the surname is typical of the area of Genoa and that the nickname referred specifically to the green lizard — a small reptile traditionally respected in folk culture because it was believed to offer protection against vipers.

Geographic distribution: Genoa region

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

Comparative analysis based on 3 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:

  • De Felice, E. (1978). Dizionario dei cognomi italiani. Milano: Mondadori.
  • Rossoni, E. (2002). Origine e storia dei cognomi italiani. Retrieved from https://www.cognomiitaliani.org
  • Research conducted by Surnames in Italy, the English-language project of Ancestros Italianos, based on the bibliography cited in the references.