The -ello Ending in Italian Surnames: Origins, Patterns, and Regional Use
This article is part of our guide to Italian surname suffixes. Learn more about the most common Italian surname endings, including -ini, -etti, -one, -ucci and other regional variants.
In a previous post, we explored the wide variety of Italian surnames, the many variations of a single family name, and the reasons behind their development. Among the most distinctive features of this diversity are suffixes and endings. In this post, we focus specifically on Italian surnames ending in -ello, -elli, and similar forms.
The Second Most Frequent Ending in Italian Surnames Is -ello and Its Derivatives
Like other affectionate or diminutive suffixes in the Italian language, -ello conveys a nuance of smallness, endearment, or familiarity. It stems from the long-standing tradition of using diminutives in Italian names, especially during the Middle Ages, and has evolved into an immense variety of surnames across different regions of Italy.
Below is a breakdown of the main diminutive forms related to -ello, including their formation, regional distribution, and illustrative examples.
Surnames Ending in -ello
After -ino, -ello is among the most widespread surname suffixes in Italy. It appears in both singular and plural forms and combines with personal names, nicknames, occupations, ethnic references, animals, objects, and local place names.
- Personal names: Martinelli, Spinelli, Marinelli, Antonelli, Stefanelli, Brunello, Tomasello, Fanelli, Vianello, Bonelli, Novello, Tonello.
- Nicknames and professions: Mancinelli, Morelli, Pastorello, Signorelli, Parrinello, Rizzello.
- Ethnic or regional origins: Bulgarelli, Cassanelli, Pavanelli, Ungarelli.
- Animal names: Pecorella, Porcelli, Tortorella.
- Objects and elements: Campanella, Farinella, Mazzarella, Panella, Quadrelli, Scarpelli, Zaramella.
- Microtoponyms: Fontanella, Montanelli.
Its distribution is pan-Italian, although many variants are especially concentrated in northern and central Italy.
Surnames Ending in -ella
The feminine form -ella functions as a diminutive suffix and is particularly common in southern Italy.
- Campania: Gambardella, Langella, Mennella, Musella, Nardella, Parrella, Pascarella, Pezzella.
- Puglia: Ciavarella, Colella, Milella.
- Sicily: Moschella, Tortorella.
- Abruzzo: Buccella, Pacella, Panella, Petrella.
- Northern Italy: Ramella (Piedmont), Zanella (Veneto).
Surnames Ending in -ellis
The Latinized suffix -ellis appears both with and without the preposition “De” and is more frequent in central and southern Italy.
Examples include: De Lellis, De Novellis, Masellis, Petruzzellis, Donatellis.
Surnames Ending in -arello
Formed by combining -ello with the infix -ar-, this suffix appears in surnames such as:
Bartolacelli, Albertinelli, Golinelli, Piccinelli, Toninelli, Santarelli, Martinarelli and Lombardarelli.
It reflects a common process of morphological expansion in Italian surname formation.
Surnames Ending in -icello
The combination -ic- + -ello produced surnames such as:
Apicella, Piscicelli, Iannicelli, Perricelli, Antonicelli, Paulicelli, Grandicelli and Vannicelli.
These surnames often derive from personal names, nicknames, or local geographic references.
Surnames Ending in -cello
When attached to roots ending in -one, the diminutive form may evolve into -cello.
Examples include Bertoncelli, Menoncello, Gianoncelli, Simoncelli, Maroncelli, Baroncelli, Zanoncelli, Cocconcelli, Pagnoncelli and Pedroncelli.
Found across northern, central and southern Italy, these surnames often have noble, occupational or descriptive origins.
Suffixes Expanded with -ac- and -t-
Some diminutive forms developed through additional infixes.
- -ac-: Bartolacelli, Maracelli.
- -t-: Ceccatelli, Roccatelli, Vannutelli, Ciccotelli, Nuccitelli, Coppotelli, Giannitelli, Grassitelli, Piscitelli, Piscitello.
These forms are especially common in Tuscany, Umbria, Lazio, Abruzzo, Calabria and Sicily.
Regional Variants: -èl, -èi and -éllu
- Veneto: Carniel, Battistel, Scopel, Vettorel, Fantinel, Parpinel.
- Friuli: Cargnel, Tonel, Faganel, Puntel.
- Northern Italy: Basei, Pavei, Mattarei, Donei, Sapei.
In Sardinia, the form -éllu appears in surnames such as Fancellu, Cappellu, Spensatellu and Suzzarellu.
It may also evolve into forms with a double -dd-, such as Nieddu, Porceddu, Uccheddu, Pireddu, Cadeddu, Ledda, Zedda, Piredda, Medda and Cancedda.
Explore Italian Surname Meanings
Many surnames mentioned in this article have dedicated entries in our Italian Surname Dictionary, where you can explore their meanings, origins, variants, geographical distribution, and references from specialized surname studies.
Browse the Italian Surname Dictionary
Frequently Asked Questions About Italian Surname Suffixes
What Does the Suffix -ello Mean in Italian Surnames?
The suffix -ello is generally a diminutive ending. It originally conveyed ideas of smallness, affection, familiarity, or descent. Over time, it became part of thousands of Italian surnames and is now one of the most common surname endings in Italy.
Are -ello and -elli Related?
Yes. The endings -ello and -elli are closely related. The first is typically singular, while the second is often the plural form. Both derive from the same diminutive tradition and appear in many Italian family names.
Why Do Many Italian Surnames End in a Vowel?
Italian surnames often end in vowels because they developed from the Italian language and its regional dialects, where nouns and adjectives commonly end in vowels. This linguistic characteristic has been preserved in family names for centuries.
Do All Italian Surnames End in a Vowel?
No. While most Italian surnames end in a vowel, there are exceptions. Some surnames end in consonants due to regional linguistic influences, foreign origins, or historical spelling variations.
Which Regions of Italy Have the Most Surnames Ending in -ello?
Surnames ending in -ello, -elli, -ella, and -arello can be found throughout Italy. However, certain variants are especially common in northern and central regions, while others are concentrated in southern Italy and the islands.
Can Surname Suffixes Help Identify the Origin of an Italian Family?
Yes. Although surname suffixes do not provide an exact place of origin, they often offer valuable clues about regional traditions, linguistic influences, and historical naming patterns. Combined with surname distribution maps and genealogical records, they can help trace family origins in Italy.
Where Can I Find the Meaning of an Italian Surname?
You can explore the meaning, origin, variants, and geographical distribution of thousands of Italian surnames in our Italian Surname Dictionary.
Related Resources
Continue exploring Italian surnames with these resources: