SURNAMES IN ITALY

Surname Santopolo

Origin and meaning

P. Durante proposes a Greek origin for this surname, with two possible interpretations: "little saint," from a Greco-Latin combination, or "blond," derived from the Greek xanthós.

S. Vannozzi rules out the reading of "little saint" and holds that the correct form corresponds to a contraction of Santo Paolo. According to Vannozzi, the surname is native of Riccia, in the province of Campobasso (Molise), with a presence documented also in Pietracatella and Cercemaggiore, localities of the same province.

Altered forms and derivatives

Geographic distribution: A surname native of Riccia (Campobasso, Molise), diffused also in Pietracatella (Campobasso). Present in Cercemaggiore (Campobasso, Molise).

📍 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:

  • Bergamo, N. (2013, May 21). Impero Romano d'Oriente 330–1453 la sua storia. Retrieved January 19, 2021, from https://www.imperobizantino.it/
  • Vannozzi, S. (2008). Nomi e cognomi: Le famiglie di Cercemaggiore nei secoli. Associazione Millemetri onlus.