The surname Possagno is a toponymic surname, that is, one that derives from the name of a place. In this case, Possagno comes directly from the name of the village of Possagno, located in the present-day province of Treviso, in the region of Veneto.

Originally, the surname was used to identify a person who came from that place. On emigrating or settling in another locality, it was common for such a person to be named quello di Possagno ("the one from Possagno") or simply Possagno. Over time, that geographic reference became fixed as a hereditary surname.

The place of origin: Possagno (Veneto)

Possagno is a historic locality of Veneto, known especially for being the birthplace of the sculptor Antonio Canova (1757–1822), one of the most important figures of Italian neoclassicism.
Although the fame of the village is due in large part to Canova, the surname Possagno does not derive from his name, but from the shared place name.