SURNAMES IN ITALY

Surname Silla

Origin and meaning

E. Rossoni considers that this surname is typical of central Italy, with a particular presence in Rome and in Scanno, in the L'Aquila area. According to Rossoni, it would derive from the Latin cognomen Silla, borne by the celebrated Roman politician and general Lucius Cornelius Sulla, dictator between 82 and 79 BC.

A. Bongioanni, on the other hand, rules out that the surname derives from the Latin name and proposes that it probably comes from some feminine name, such as Tarsilla. Bongioanni notes that the surname, although infrequent, is found in different parts of Italy.

Geographic distribution: Rome, the L'Aquila 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:

  • Bongioanni, A. (1940). Nomi e Cognomi. Saggio di ricerche etimologiche e storiche. Milano: Fratelli Bocca.
  • Rossoni, E. (2002). Origine e storia dei cognomi italiani. Retrieved from https://www.cognomiitaliani.org