Italian last names carry centuries of history, reflecting occupations, geography, personal traits, and even family lineage. Whether you’re researching your ancestry, naming a character in a story, or just curious about Italian heritage, this list will guide you through the fascinating world of Italian surnames.
Let’s explore them by category; geographical, occupational, patronymic (based on a father’s name), and descriptive.
Geographical Italian Surnames (Based on Locations)
These surnames often indicate where a family originated.
- Rossi – Derived from “rosso” (red), possibly referring to someone with red hair or from a place with red soil.
- Romano – Means “from Rome.”
- Milano – Indicates roots in Milan.
- Napolitano – Signifies ancestry from Naples.
- Fiorentino – Means “from Florence.”
- Veneti/Veneziano – Linked to Venice.
- Lombardi – From the Lombardy region.
- Siciliano – Indicates Sicilian heritage.
- Pugliese – From Puglia.
- Calabrese – Originating in Calabria.
- Genovese – From Genoa.
- Torres/Torricelli – Refers to someone living near a tower (“torre”).
- Fontana – Means “fountain,” possibly indicating a family near a water source.
- Riva – Means “shore” or “bank.”
- Marino – Means “of the sea.”
Occupational Italian Surnames (Based on Jobs)
Many Italian surnames stem from ancestral professions.
- Ferrari/Ferraro – Means “blacksmith” (from “ferro,” meaning iron).
- Conti – Means “count,” possibly indicating nobility.
- Barbieri – Means “barber.”
- Pastore – Means “shepherd.”
- Molinari – Means “miller.”
- Pescatore – Means “fisherman.”
- Fabbri – Another variation of “blacksmith.”
- Sarto – Means “tailor.”
- Medici – Means “doctors” (yes, like the famous Florentine family!).
- Notaro – Means “notary.”
- Marangon – Means “carpenter.”
- Fornaio – Means “baker.”
- Cavalli – Means “horses,” possibly a horse trader or breeder.
- Zappa – Means “hoe,” possibly a farmer.
- Guerrero – Means “warrior.”
Patronymic & Matronymic Surnames (Based on Parents’ Names)
These surnames often come from a father’s or mother’s first name.
- Di Giovanni – “Son of Giovanni.”
- D’Angelo – “Son of Angelo.”
- De Luca – “Son of Luca.”
- Di Marco – “Son of Marco.”
- De Rosa – Could mean “son of Rosa” or refer to the flower.
- D’Amico – “Son of Amico” (meaning “friend”).
- Di Stefano – “Son of Stefano.”
- Di Paolo – “Son of Paolo.”
- Di Francesco – “Son of Francesco.”
- Di Matteo – “Son of Matteo.”
- De Santis – “Son of Santo.”
- Di Carlo – “Son of Carlo.”
- Di Gregorio – “Son of Gregorio.”
- Di Martino – “Son of Martino.”
- Di Nardo – “Son of Nardo.”
Descriptive Italian Surnames (Based on Traits or Nicknames)
These surnames often described a person’s appearance or personality.
- Bianchi – Means “white,” possibly referring to light hair or complexion.
- Bruno – Means “brown,” likely for someone with brown hair or skin.
- Ricci – Means “curly-haired.”
- Basso – Means “short.”
- Longo – Means “tall.”
- Grosso – Means “big” or “large.”
- Piccolo – Means “small.”
- Grasso – Means “fat” (historically, this could indicate wealth).
- Mancini – Means “left-handed.”
- Pinto – Means “painted” or “spotted,” possibly referring to freckles.
- Moretti – Means “dark-skinned” or “Moorish.”
- Pellegrini – Means “pilgrim.”
- Selvaggio – Means “wild” or “untamed.”
- Allegri – Means “cheerful.”
- Forte – Means “strong.”
Nature-Inspired Italian Surnames
These names are derived from elements of nature.
- Russo – Means “red-haired” or “red-complexioned.”
- Verde – Means “green.”
- Gallo – Means “rooster.”
- Lupo – Means “wolf.”
- Leone – Means “lion.”
- Colombo – Means “dove.”
- Orso – Means “bear.”
- Costa – Means “coast” or “rib.”
- Monti – Means “mountains.”
- Bosco – Means “forest.”
- Fiore – Means “flower.”
- Oliva – Means “olive tree.”
- Vigna – Means “vineyard.”
- Papa – Means “pope,” but could also mean “father.”
- Stella – Means “star.”
Religious & Saint-Inspired Italian Surnames
Many Italian surnames are tied to saints or religious terms.
- Santoro – Derived from “Santo,” meaning “saint.”
- Santini – Means “little saint.”
- Angeli – Means “angels.”
- Serafini – From “Seraphim,” the highest order of angels.
- Spirito – Means “spirit.”
- Parisi – Refers to someone from Paris, but also linked to Saint Parisius.
- Martini – Derived from “Martino,” meaning “of Mars” or linked to Saint Martin.
- Benedetti – Means “blessed.”
- Salvatore – Means “savior.”
- Cruciani – Possibly related to “cross” (croce).
Noble & Aristocratic Italian Surnames
Some surnames hint at noble lineage.
- Conti – Means “count.”
- Marchetti – Derived from “marchese,” meaning “marquis.”
- Barone – Means “baron.”
- Duchi – Means “dukes.”
- Principe – Means “prince.”
- Re – Means “king.”
- Imperiale – Means “imperial.”
- Visconti – Means “viscount.”
- Colonna – A noble Roman family name.
- Orsini – Another noble family name meaning “little bear.”
Unique & Lesser-Known Italian Surnames
Here are some less common but equally interesting names.
- Zampieri – Means “drummer.”
- Trombetta – Means “trumpet.”
- Ciabattini – Means “cobbler.”
- Tagliaferro – Means “iron-cutter.”
- Pappalardo – Means “lard-eater,” possibly a nickname for a chef.
- Sbarrato – Means “barred” or “blocked.”
- Quattrocchi – Means “four eyes,” possibly referring to glasses.
- Malatesta – Means “bad head,” perhaps for a stubborn person.
- Bellagamba – Means “beautiful leg.”
- Pappagallo – Means “parrot,” possibly for a talkative person.
Modern & Popular Italian Surnames Today
These names remain widespread in Italy.
- Esposito – Historically given to abandoned children (from “expositus,” meaning “exposed”).
- Rizzo – Means “curly-haired.”
- Greco – Means “Greek.”
- Caruso – Means “boy” or “young apprentice.”
- Lombardo – From the Lombardy region.
- Gallo – Means “rooster,” a symbol of pride.
- Ferri – Means “irons” or “blacksmith.”
- Vitale – Means “life.”
- Messina – From the city of Messina in Sicily.
- Palermo – From the city of Palermo.
Fun & Quirky Italian Surnames
Some surnames are just plain fun!
- Saltaformaggio – Means “jump cheese,” possibly a playful nickname.
- Cantalamessa – Means “sing the Mass.”
- Mangiapane – Means “bread-eater.”
- Battilocchio – Means “knock the eye,” possibly for a troublemaker.
- Pizzigoni – Means “pinching,” perhaps for someone with a sharp wit.
- Sonnambulo – Means “sleepwalker.”
- Tagliapietra – Means “stone-cutter.”
- Sparacollo – Means “neck-saver,” an odd but intriguing name.
- Caccavalle – Means “cheese-maker.”
- Tiraboschi – Means “pull woods,” possibly a lumberjack.
Final Thoughts
Italian surnames are like a tapestry of history, geography, and personal identity. Whether your last name is Rossi, Ferrari, or something as unique as Saltaformaggio, each one tells a story.
Do you have an Italian surname in your family? Share its meaning in the comments; I’d love to hear about it!
Grazie for reading!