Pelato
This form is a variant of the surname Pelati.
Origin and meaning
F. De Laurentiis records it as a derivative of Pelà.
E. Rossoni proposes several hypotheses of origin: the first derives it from dialectal alterations of the Roman cognomen Pilatus; the second, from nicknames linked to the fact that the ancestors were bald; the third, from a patronymic form with the suffix -ati, equivalent to "son of," referring to ancestors whose fathers were called Pelle or Apelle with aphaeresis.
Variants
Geographic distribution: Veneto
📍 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
- De Laurentiis, F. (2003). Cognomi occhiobellesi. Storia, curiosità, significati e classifiche. Occhiobello: Teatro Polivalente di Occhiobello (T.P.O.). Retrieved from https://web.archive.org/web/20030516113456/http://www.comune.occhiobello.ro.it/cognomi/