SURNAMES IN ITALY

Raffini

This form is a variant of the surname Raffa.

Origin and meaning

E. Rossoni and N. Bergamo differ on the origin of the surname.

Rossoni suggests that they would derive, directly or through various diminutive variants, from the medieval name Raffus, derived in turn from the Lombard name Raffhald. He documents it in Genoa in 1360 with a certain Raffus Maffonus, and in Pisa at the beginning of the 14th century.

Bergamo, on the other hand, proposes a Greek origin, from the term rhapto ("tailor").

Variants

Geographic distribution: Raffa has areas between the Messina area and Reggio Calabria, in the Avellino area and in Rome. Raffelli is typically Lombard, of Rodengo Saiano in the Brescia area. Raffi has areas in the lower Brescia area, in the Carrara area, in the Grosseto area and in Rome. Raffini is specific to the area between the Bologna and Florence areas: Imola and Bologna in the Bologna area, and Florence, Firenzuola and Palazzuolo sul Senio in the Florence area. Raffino is typically Sicilian, of Gagliano Castelferrato in the Enna area. Raffo has areas between the Genoa, La Spezia and Carrara areas, in Rome, in the Taranto area, in the Ragusa area and probably a secondary area in the Cagliari area.

📍 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
  • Bergamo, N. (2013, May 21). Impero Romano d'Oriente 330–1453 la sua storia. Retrieved January 19, 2021, from https://www.imperobizantino.it/