Italian surnames derived from the verb mangiare

The verb mangiare ("to eat"), with Latin roots in manducare, has given rise to a surprising variety of Italian surnames. Their fixing as hereditary names answers to multiple causes: nicknames related to actual eating habits, humorous deformations, references to work or to idleness, symbolic allusions to wealth (as in the case of meat or honey) and even pejorative connotations such as theft or the abuse of power. What follows brings together the contributions of three fundamental authors —E. De Felice, P. Lastrico and E. Rossoni—, preserving all the variants, meanings and geographical distributions mentioned by each.

Mangia is a surname with a notable presence in southern Italy, especially in the Salento, in Campania and also in Florence. According to De Felice and Rossoni, it may derive directly from the verb mangiare and have arisen as a jocular, mocking or even disparaging nickname, marking out someone gluttonous or given to taking advantage. It is also documented as a form derived from the medieval name Mangia, which opens a second, anthroponymic possibility of origin.

Mangini, Mangillo and Mangialli represent alternative forms with different regional distributions. Mangini is frequent in Tuscany, and is documented also in cities such as Genoa, Livorno, Pisa, Florence, Foggia and Bari; some authors consider it possibly a variant of Mancini. Mangialli, by contrast, is typical of Lombardy and Veneto. De Felice and Rossoni agree in including these surnames within the group linked to mangiare, though with nuances in each case.

Mangione and Mangioni are surnames derived directly from the verb mangiare, with a literal or figurative sense pointing to someone gluttonous, voracious, or who takes advantage of others. Mangione has a strong presence in regions of southern Italy, such as Sicily and Puglia, especially in the provinces of Agrigento and Caltanissetta. Mangioni, by contrast, is a fairly rare surname. This reading is shared by De Felice, Lastrico and Rossoni.

Mangiapane and Mangiapani allude, in a figurative sense, to an idler or social parasite, probably from the expression mangiare a ufo ("to eat at someone else's expense"). Mangiapane is characteristic of western Sicily, while Mangiapani, rarer still, is documented in Tuscany, the Marche and Umbria from the 13th century. According to De Felice and Rossoni, both derive from ironic nicknames about eating habits or attitude towards work.

Mangiaterra, present in the region of the Marche, alludes to one who "eats the earth", an expression that may be read as someone who squandered his goods or ruined the family patrimony. The symbolic reading was recorded by De Felice and taken up by Rossoni in his research.

Mangiatordi, whose literal meaning is "he who eats thrushes", probably reflects an image of gluttony or of exaggerated eating habits. De Felice includes it among the surnames arisen from descriptive nicknames, without its necessarily referring to the actual consumption of that bird.

Mangiacapra and its variant Mangiacapre mean literally "he who eats goats". Although it may evoke gluttony, it also suggests the image of someone who steals livestock or resorts to desperate practices. This surname is typical of the Caserta area, and both De Felice and Rossoni agree in their symbolic reading of it, with social nuances.

Mangiacasale is a particular case. Associated with an old noble family of German origin, lords of Casale, the surname could also be read symbolically as "devourer of lands" or "he who consumes the house". De Felice notes both senses as possible.

Mangiafico, typical of the Syracuse area, arises as a humorous nickname linked to the eating of figs (probably fichi d'India, that is, prickly pears). The reference to that fruit, with its stinging spines, may have been used in an ironic tone. De Felice and Rossoni agree on this reading.

Mangiagalli, recorded in the Milan area, means literally "he who eats cockerels", but in a figurative sense it was applied to chicken thieves or to characters of dubious reputation. De Felice and Rossoni read it as a disparaging nickname rooted in popular culture.

Mangialardo and Mangialardi evoke the eating of pork fat (lardo), which in the Middle Ages could be a sign both of wealth and of gluttony. They appear in various regions: Bari, Lecce, Modugno, Falconara, Rome, Ancona, Pistoia and Senigallia. The reading is shared by De Felice, Lastrico and Rossoni.

Mangiamele, Mangiameli and Mangiamela are related to the eating of honey or to beekeeping. The variant Mangiamela, which appears in Basilicata, could be due to a transcription error. Both De Felice and Rossoni consider that these surnames derive from positive or neutral nicknames, associated with rural activities.

Mangiavacca and Mangiavacche, with the meaning "he who eats cows", could reflect not only gluttony but also practices of plunder or ostentatious consumption. They were frequent in Tuscany and, in certain contexts, were regarded as marks of social status during the Middle Ages. This reading is upheld by De Felice and Rossoni.

Finally, Mangialavori would appear to refer to someone who constantly changes occupation or who "eats up" his jobs, that is, exhausts or ruins them. It is a surname documented in the Vibo Valentia area, and both De Felice and Rossoni agree in reading this name as social criticism disguised as humour.

Mangialasche is a surname linked to the term lasca, a fish of little symbolic and economic value. According to De Felice and Rossoni, this family name, typical of the Perugia area and of Lake Trasimeno, could allude both to the trade of fisherman and, figuratively, to a conformist or low-profile attitude. The emphasis on eating lesser fish may have worked as an ironic or social nickname.

Mangiavillano and its variant Mangiavillani, documented at Palma di Montechiaro (Agrigento), reflect a clearly ironic and disparaging usage. De Felice, Lastrico and Rossoni agree that they mean literally "devours peasants", an appellative applied to people who took advantage of the humblest or exploited rural workers.

Mangioguadagni is an infrequent surname which according to De Felice derives from an ironic construction: "he eats earnings". It suggests an individual who squanders his own resources or those of others, probably arisen as criticism or mockery in a context of scarcity or moral disapproval.

Mangiacavalli, which literally means "he eats horses", is an extremely rare surname. According to Lastrico, it is documented in northern Italy, particularly in the locality of Lomazzo (province of Como). The name may have arisen in a hyperbolic or sarcastic way to indicate extreme, even savage, behaviour.

Mangiacotti is a typically Foggian surname, with a high concentration in San Giovanni Rotondo and lesser presences in Foggia and Orta Nova. According to P. Lastrico and V. Sgaramella, it is the fixing as a surname of an old nickname. Although the original motivation is not specified, a root in the eating habits or striking customs of the ancestor is presumed.

Mangiarotti is a fairly widespread surname, above all in the regions of Pavia and Milan. It derives from the plural of mangiatore, that is, "eaters", and may have arisen as a nickname applied to a family known for its voracity or notorious eating habits. The reading is shared by De Felice, Lastrico and Rossoni.

Manciaracina and Mangiaracina, very rare and located in western Sicily, could have multiple origins. Rossoni suggests that they could derive from a dialect nickname linked to the salema fish, although there is also the hypothesis that the name alludes to someone who "eats grapes", thus establishing a symbolic connection with eating habits or regional customs.

Mangiapia, of Neapolitan origin, has a sound that suggests a relation with mangiare, but Rossoni clarifies that it in fact comes from mangalion, a term of Byzantine origin designating a palace guard. In this case there is no etymological connection with food, despite appearances.

Mangliardi, a surname of Calabrian origin, derives from the Germanic name Emmergardo. Although its form may seem related to mangiare, Rossoni notes that it has no semantic connection with the verb "to eat".

Mangiulli and Mangiullo are surnames typical of Puglia. According to Rossoni, they derive from affectionate or hypocoristic nicknames alluding to a particular way of eating, probably used in a familiar or humorous tone within the local sphere.