SURNAMES IN ITALY

Surname Ratta

Origin and meaning

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

Rossoni suggests that it should derive from links with the Della Ratta (see), whether by dependence or by being under their jurisdiction.

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

Geographic distribution: It has an important area in the Salento in the Leverano area (Lecce), another in the Bologna area and another in the Catanzaro area (southern Italy).

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

Drawing on 2 authors, this entry presents the different hypotheses about the origin of the surname, avoiding a single oversimplified explanation.

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/