SURNAMES IN ITALY

Picarello

This form is a variant of the surname Picarella.

Origin and meaning

E. Rossoni and V. Blunda agree that the surname could allude to the small size of the ancestor, but they differ on the origin of the term.

E. Rossoni derives it from the medieval name Picciariello, a variant of the more common Piccirillo, with the literal meaning of 'small, tiny', probably understood in an affectionate sense. In some cases it could indicate physical characteristics of the ancestor, especially a very slight build. He also notes as equally possible, for the variant Picariello, a derivation from the Spanish term pícaro.

V. Blunda, on the other hand, for the Sicilian variant derives it from the word picarèdda ('small coastal fish'), a diminutive used in the speech of the fishermen of the Sicilian coast. As a surname it could have originated in a nickname given to a person of slight figure or linked to fishing in grounds close to the shore.

Variants

Geographic distribution: Picarella has a presence in Mercato San Severino (Salerno area) and Torre Annunziata (Naples area), and in the Agrigento area (Agrigento and Porto Empedocle), in Palermo and Monreale (Palermo area) and in Comiso (Ragusa area). Picarelli has a presence in Rome and the Rieti area, in Naples and in the Cosenza area (Cetraro, Roggiano Gravina and Rende). Picarello, almost unique, seems to be from southern Italy (Campania). Picariello is distinctly from southern Italy (Campania), especially from the Avellino area. Picciarella, very rare, seems to be specific to Andria (Bari). Picciarelli, also from Apulia, is specific to Taranto. Picciariello has areas of presence in Bitonto (Bari) and Cerignola (Foggia), with small presences in Rapolla (Potenza) and Battipaglia (Salerno).

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

This entry brings together what 2 authors propose about the origin of the surname. In some cases they agree and reinforce a single hypothesis; in others, they contribute different views worth considering.

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
  • Blunda, V. (2018). Supposte origini dei cognomi in Sicilia [Digital edition]. Retrieved from https://www.trapaninostra.it