SURNAMES IN ITALY

Scialabba

This form is a variant of the surname Sciarrabba.

Origin and meaning

The authors agree that this surname is of Sicilian origin and derives from the dialect term sciarràbba, coming from the Arabic šarrāb, with the meaning of "drunkard" or "inveterate drinker." Both agree that it is a surname formed from a nickname originally applied to a person known for excessive fondness for drink.

V. Blunda adds that the term belongs to the popular speech of the island and that the nickname would have arisen in contexts such as taverns and festivities, where such a reputation was notorious and characterizing.

Variants

Geographic distribution: Sicily (sporadic)

📍 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:

  • De Felice, E. (1978). Dizionario dei cognomi italiani. Milano: Mondadori.
  • Blunda, V. (2018). Supposte origini dei cognomi in Sicilia [Digital edition]. Retrieved from https://www.trapaninostra.it