SURNAMES IN ITALY

Toponymic surnames in Italian tradition

Toponymic surnames in Italian tradition

In Italian, as in many other languages, a large number of surnames coincide with toponyms or demonyms. It is estimated that about 35% of Italian surnames fall into this category. According to Enzo Caffarelli, this phenomenon can be attributed to several factors:

  • Toponyms were useful in identifying individuals, especially in small communities.
  • The origin of a newcomer was important in a socially and politically fragmented Italy.
  • Patronymics were often inadequate when the father of the person was not known in the local context.

Subgroups of toponymic surnames

1. The surname matches the toponym or a variant

These surnames arose from migration. The name of a place familiar to the local community was used to identify someone from that location. Examples:

Some surnames derive from lost toponyms, or preserve dialectal forms.

2. The surname is a plural of a toponym

Common in Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Umbria, and Marche. Examples:

3. Surnames formed by a preposition + toponym

Prepositions such as da, de, or di may appear either separate from or joined with the toponym. Examples:

Caffarelli notes a kind of “territorial specialization” based on these formulas:

  • Da + toponym: common in northern Italy (e.g., Da Parma).
  • Dal / Del: typical of Trentino and Veneto.
  • De + toponym: central and southern regions.
  • Di + toponym: most common in the south.
  • Della / Del + toponym: often generic references, e.g., Della Valle, Del Monte.
  • Contracted forms: Daidone, Dalcantara, D’Avola, etc.

4. Surnames preceded by “a”

A rare phenomenon found mostly in northwestern Italy. Examples: Accossati (from Cossato), Arecco (from Recco), Abbracchio (from Bracchio).

5. Surnames with the prefix “s”

Used to reinforce the toponym or sometimes with a derogatory nuance. Examples: Sbergamo, Scarmagnani.

6. Toponym + article (la, le, li, lo)

Rare and less studied, but common in southern Italy. Examples:

7. The surname corresponds to an ethnic group

Examples: Greco, Lombardo, Sorrentino, Calabrese, Mantovani, Pugliese, Albanese, etc.

Common phonetic variations:
  • Apocope: Trentin, Paviot, Mestriner.
  • Vowel closure (in unstressed syllables): Puglisi, Leccisi, Narisi.
  • Dialectal suffixes:
    • -esu: Fonnesu, Maresu.
    • -otto: Capizzoto, Pulizzotto.
    • -ito: Messiniti, Palermiti.
    • -ò: Calabrò, Castrignanò.
    • -eo: Messineo, Cataneo, Raguseo.

A single ethnic adjective can generate multiple surnames: Liparese, Liparitano, Liparuoto, etc.

Surnames derived from major cities

From Milano: Milano, Milani, Da Milano, Milanese, Milanesi, Milanesio.
From Napoli: Napoli, Napoletano, Di Napoli, Denapoli, Napolitano.
From Pisa: Pisani, Pisano, Pisan, Pisanu, Da Pisa, Di Pisa, Del Pisa.

Surnames like Pisano, Toscano, Bergamini, or Aquilani reflect patterns of internal migration and regional identity.

Surnames linked to geographic or man-made features

These surnames relate to microtopography—the location of a person’s home relative to key landmarks:

The toponym and local identity

Some surnames reflect cultural stereotypes about the people from a given place:

  • Lombardo: associated with bankers or moneylenders.
  • Greco: linked to Byzantine Christians or cunning individuals.
  • Raguseo: may be associated with stinginess or irritability.

References

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