SURNAMES IN ITALY

Sinis

This form is a variant of the surname Sini.

Origin and meaning

The authors agree that this surname is Sardinian and derives from the place name Sini, a locality of the province of Oristano, in Sardinia.

E. Rossoni adds that the locality is of Nuragic origin and had some development in Roman times. Its name could be related to the Latin word sinus, which designates a sinuosity or hill. The surname is documented as early as among the signatories of the Peace of Eleonora of 1388, and is diffused throughout Sardinia, especially in the northern part of the island.

Rossoni also records the variant Sinis, likewise Sardinian, with a presence in Assemini, in the Cagliari area; in Oristano; and in Alghero, in the Sassari area.

Variants

Geographic distribution: Sardinia

📍 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:

  • De Felice, E. (1978). Dizionario dei cognomi italiani. Milano: Mondadori.
  • Rossoni, E. (2002). Origine e storia dei cognomi italiani. Retrieved from https://www.cognomiitaliani.org