Browse Submitted Surnames

Lai Italian
Possibly denoting someone from Alà dei Sardi, or derived from the given name Nicola. Alternately, it may derive from lai, a type of lyrical poem.

Langiu Italian
From Sardinian langiu "slim, thin", cognate to Long.

Leggio Italian
From Sicilian leggiu "light, not heavy; superficial", a nickname for someone considered unreliable or irresponsible. Variant of Leggièri.

Licursi Italian
Of Albanian origin, either an occupational name for a tanner from lëkurë "skin, leather", or a habitational name.

Liddell English
From the Liddel river, which takes its name from Okd English hl̄de “loud” + dæl “valley”.

Liistro Italian
From Sicilian lijistru "privet", a kind of shrub or small tree.

Littarru Italian
From Sardinian littarru "buckthorn".

Locci Italian
Possibly from the Spanish given name Eloche (see Elochius.

Lodde Italian
From Sardinian lodde "fox".

Lo Guasta Italian
Variant of Guasti, literally "the broken". Probably used as a nickname for someone with a twisted or deformed limb, used in at least one case for a foundling.

Loi Italian
Clipped form of Balloi.

Loia Italian
Most likely a variant of Aloia. May alternately be related to Italian loggia "atrium, open-roofed gallery", Greek λεώς (leos) "the people", or Tuscan loia "dirt, filth on clothes or skin", perhaps a nickname for someone with a profession that often made them dirty, such as mining.

Lunatici Italian
A nickname for a quirky or temperamental person, ultimately from Latin lunaticus "of the moon, moonstruck".

Lusso Italian
From the given name Lucius, or possibly the toponym Santu Lussurgiu.

Macaluso Italian
Possibly from Arabic مخلوص (maklus) "freed, liberated", indicating a freedman or slave who had been liberated, which may be related to Sicilian macaluscio, "cleaned and prepared cotton".

Macis Italian
From Sardinian maccia "shrub, thick bush, brush", or possibly denoting someone from the village Simax.

Madau Italian
From Sardinian madau "fold, enclosure for sheep".

Madeddu Italian
Possibly a variant of Madau "sheepfold". Alternately, may derive from a Sardinian variant of Amato "beloved", or from the Latin cognomen Metellus "hired servant".

Maiorana Italian
From Sicilian maiurana, "marjoram (herb)".

Malandra Italian
Possibly related to Italian malandrino "dishonest, mischievous; rascal".

Malatesta Italian
Means "bad head" in Italian, a nickname for a stubborn or perhaps malicious person. It could have also indicated the bearer had a misshapen head. ... [more]

Malfatto Italian
Means "badly made, shoddy; deformed" in Italian, possibly originating with the nickname Malefactus "ugly, injured". Cognate to French Malfait.

Malinconico Italian
Means "gloomy, melancholy" in Italian.

Malo Italian
Possibly from Italian mano "hand", a nickname for a skillful person, or a short form of a given name such as Romano.

Malvestio Italian
From Venetian malvestio "poorly-dressed, shabby", given to foundlings turned into an orphanage with shabby clothes.

Malvestiti Italian
Variant of Malvestio.

Mambelli Italian
Possibly from Italian mano "hand" and bello "beautiful".

Manacorda Italian
Possibly means "bad heart", from Latin malus "bad" and cordis "heart".

Manai Italian
From Sardinian mannai "grandfather, grandmother".

Mangialaglio Italian
Means "eats garlic" in Italian, from mangia "to eat" and aglio "garlic". Possibly a nickname for someone known for heavily seasoning their food, or for having bad breath.

Mangiaracina Italian
The Sicilian name for salpa, a kind of fish, from mangia "to eat" and racina "grapes".

Mangiarotti Italian
From an Italian nickname, possibly meaning "rat eater".

Manocchio Italian
Meaning uncertain, possibly from Italian mano "hand" and occhio "eye", an elaboration of the surname Mano, or an altered form of malocchio meaning "evil eye".

Marcioni Italian
Means "son of Marcio".

Marigo Italian
Either from Venetian marigo "mayor of a rural village", or from the given name Amerigo.

Marongiu Italian
From Sardinian marongiu "to hoe, hoeing", from marra "hoe, digging tool".

Maroz Belarusian
From Belarusian мароз (maróz) "frost"

Massidda Italian
From Sardinian massidda "jaw, jawbone".

Mastrangelo Italian
From Italian mastro "master, expert craftsman" combined with the given name Angelo.

Mattana Italian
From Sardinian mattana "madness, annoyance".

Matzeu Italian
Variant of Mazzeo.

Maugeri Sicilian, Italian
From Sicilian maugeri "herdsman".

Maxia Italian
Possibly from the dialectical term maxia "magic", or masia "farm, country house".

Menna Italian
Derives from the given name Mena 5.

Mercante Italian
An occupational name meaning "merchant, trader" in Italian, from Latin mercans "trading".

Mesina Italian
From Sardinian mesina "keg, small barrel", probably given as a nickname to someone with a round or fat build.

Mezzadonna Italian
Means "half a woman" in Italian, from mezza "half" and donna "lady, woman".

Mezzasalma Italian
From Italian mezza "half" and salma, an archaic term for a small unit of land, indicating that the bearer was not very wealthy. Salma also coincides with an Italian word meaning "corpse".

Migaleddu Italian
From the given name Michele 1.

Miliddi Italian
Possibly a Sardinian nickname for Camillo.

Milingiana Italian
Probably from milinciana "eggplant, aubergine", likely given to foundlings.

Moffa Italian
From Italian muffa "mould, mildew, moss".

Molena Venetian
From Venetian mołéna "crumb", perhaps a nickname based on the bearer's size.

Moncada Spanish
A habitational surname, from Catalan Montcada, ultimately from monte "mountain" and an older variant of Catalonia.

Monteleone Italian
From various place names, meaning "mountain lion", or "mountain of the lion".

Montixi Italian
Means "small mountain, hill".

Morabito Italian
Ultimately from Arabic مُرَابِط (murabit) "holy man, one who preaches in the street; soldier stationed in an outpost", from which comes Sicilian murabitu "moderate, sober" and murabbiu "teetotal".

Mulè Italian
From Arabic مولى (mawlan) "guide, chief, lord, master".

Munari Italian
From Venetian munaro "miller".

Musco Italian
From Sicilian muscu "moss".

Naitana Italian
Probably from the name of a disappeared village, itself derived from Latin navita "sailor, navigator".

Nasuti Italian
From Italian nasuto "nosey, big-nosed".

Nepa Italian

Nievo Italian
From nievo "grandchild, grandson; nephew", probably used to differentiate between relatives of the same name.

Niro Italian
From Neapolitan niro "black", cognate to Neri.

Norbiato Venetian
Meaning uncertain.

Nordio Italian
Probably derived from a given name containing the element nord "north", of Frankish or Germanic origin.

Notte Italian
From Italian notte "night", perhaps a form of Mezzanotte.

Nurchis Italian
Denoting someone from Nure or Nurra in Sardinia, which were possibly derived from the pre-Roman root words nur meaning "fire" or "stones, heap" and the suffix -ke meaning "earth" or "dwelling".

Nurra Italian
See Nurchis.

Occhi Italian
From Italian occhio "eye", a nickname for someone with good eyesight, or with distinctive eyes.

Occhibelli Italian
Probably from Italian occhio "eye" and bello "beautiful, good", as a nickname for someone with keen eyesight or attractive eyes. May also originate from a place of the same name.

Occhibianco Italian
Means "white eye" in Italian, most often given to foundlings.

Occhibove Italian
Probably means "ox eyes, cow eyes", from Italian occhio "eye" and bove "ox", perhaps a nickname for someone with large, dark eyes.

Occhilupo Italian
Means "wolf's eye" in Italian.

Occhiochiuso Italian
Probably from Italian occhio "eye" and chiuso "closed, shut", perhaps a nickname for someone who was blind, or known for being lazy.

Occhiodoro Italian
Possibly means "golden eye", from occhio d'oro.

Occhionero Italian
From Italian occhio "eye" and nero "dark, black".

Occhiovivo Italian
Probably from Italian occhio "eye" and vivo "vivid, intense; alive", likely given to foundlings.

Occhirossi Italian
Means "red eyes" in Italian.

Ó Duibhne Irish
Means "descendent of Duibhne", a given name possibly meaning "ill-tempered, surly".

Ogliari Italian
Possibly derived from a place name, or from oglio "oil", indicating the bearer's occupation, or perhaps appearance.

Ognibene Italian
From Latin Omnebonus (see Omnebon), "all good".

Onidi Italian
Denoting someone from Onida, a former village.

Onnis Italian
From the toponym Fonni.

Orfanelli Italian
Means "little orphans" in Italian, ultimately from Ancient Greek ὀρφᾰνός "without parents; bereft". Given to children raised in an orphanage.

Orru Italian
From Sardinian orrù "bramble", itself from Latin rubus "bramble, blackberry bush".

Pale Nahuatl
Possibly a variant of Apale.

Pallino Italian
Possibly from Italian palla "ball".

Pallotta Italian
From Italian palla "ball".

Pancione Italian
Means "fat person, paunch, big belly" in Italian.

Pandimiglio Italian
Probably means "millet bread" in Italian, from pane "bread" and miglio "millet".

Panichi Italian
Probably from panico, a type of millet grown in Italy. Alternately, it could be from the Latin name Panicus "of Pan, panic".

Panzeri Italian
Either a nickname from Italian pancia "belly, paunch", referring to someone with a prominent belly (see Panza), or an occupational name for someone who manufactured girdles and armour, from panciere "corset, girdle; paunce (armour covering the belly)", ultimately from the same root.

Panzica Italian
From Sicilian panzicu "pot-bellied, paunch".

Patta Italian
Possibly from patta "draw, settlement", perhaps a nickname given to a negotiator. The same term can also mean "heat, warmth of the hearth".

Pazzi Italian
From Italian pazzo "crazy, insane, mad".

Pelagatti Italian
Probably derives from an old expression meaning "cheat, scoundrel", literally a combination of pela "to skin" and gatti "cats".

Pelliccia Italian
From Italian pelliccia "fur (of an animal)".

Penna Italian
Possibly from Italian penna "feather, pen", a nickname for a scribe.

Pensa Italian
Possibly from Italian pensa "think", indicating the bearer was known for being thoughtful or intelligent.

Peoples Irish
An attempted English translation of Ó Duibhne, based on the Irish word daoine meaning "people".

Pepall English
Variant of People.

Perla Italian
From perla "pearl".

Perna Italian
Meaning uncertain, possibly from the dialectic word perna "leg", denoting someone with a deformed or missing leg, or a variant of Perla.

Perseu Italian
Sardinian form of Perseo.

Peverelli Italian
Likely an altered form of Poverelli.

Piccioni Italian
From Italian piccione, "pigeon".

Piganzoli Italian

Pili Italian
Sardinian form of Italian pelo "hair, hairy".

Piredda Italian
From Sardinian piredda "small pear". Compare Piras.

Pirelli Italian
From an altered form of the given name Piero.

Pirovano Italian
Probably from a place in Lombardy, itself possibly deriving from Ancient Greek πυρο- (pyro-) "fire" and -γενής (-genes) "born of".

Pittau Italian
Sardinian diminutive of Sebastiano.

Plescia Italian
From Albanian plesht "flea".

Podda Italian
From Sardinian podda "flour", or pudda "chicken".

Pomante Italian
An occupational name for someone who farms or sells fruit, from Italian pomo "apple", descended from Latin pomum "fruit, fruit tree".

Porcelli Italian
From Italian porcello, meaning "piglet". Used to denote someone who worked as a swineherd, or perhaps a nickname for someone who resembled a piglet in some way.

Porcu Italian
From Sardinian porcu "pig".

Poverelli Italian
Means "poor (person)" in Italian, given to foundlings and orphans.

Proietti Italian
From Latin proiecto "abandoned, thrown away", given to foundlings and children abandoned at orphanages. The name may have been taken from la ruota dei proietti, or "foundling wheel", that some orphanages and religious institutes in Italy installed for infants to be anonymously abandoned in.

Puddu Italian
From Sardinian puddu "chicken" (compare Podda).

Pulsoni Italian
Probably from Latin pulso "to beat, to strike".

Quail English, Manx
A variant of Quayle, derived from various patronymics meaning "son of Paul". Alternately, an English nickname derived from the bird, perhaps given to a person who was timid, or known for being promiscuous.

Rafaniello Italian
Probably from Italian ravanello "radish", probably given to someone who grew or sold radishes, or perhaps resembled one in some way.

Rebuffo Italian
Possibly from the medieval given names Rebuffo or Robufus. Alternately, may derive from a nickname based on rabuffo "rebuke, scold".

Ripamonti Italian
From ripa "bank, shore" and monte "mountain".

Rizzuto Italian
From Sicilian rizzutu "curly-haired".

Rodino Italian
Possibly from the medieval Latin name Rodinus, or Germanic Hrodhari, from hroþi "fame, glory" and Hari "battle".

Rosser Welsh
Variant of Prosser.

Rota Italian
Means "wheel" in Italian, from various place names.

Rotunno Italian
From Neapolitan rotunno "round, rotund".

Rovere Italian
From rovere "oak".

Rubiu Italian
From Sardinian runiu "red", cognate to Rubio.

Rumble English
Descended from the personal name Rumbald/Rombold, which is composed of the Germanic elements hrom "fame, glory" and bald "bold, brave".

Rusconi Italian
From Italian rusca, "splinter, sliver of wood".

Ruvolo Italian
From Sicilian ruvolo "sessile oak".

Sabato Italian
From sabato "Saturday".

Sablone Italian
From Latin sabulo "coarse sand, gravel".

Saccà Italian
From Arabic سقى (saqa) "to give water", a nickname for a water carrier.

Saccavino Italian
Possibly from French sac à vin "drunkard".

Saddi Italian

Salierno Italian
Possibly denotes someone from the city Salerno.

Santin Venetian
Venetian diminutive of Santo.

Saragat Italian
Meaning unknown, perhaps a variant of Sarago. The surname of a former Italian president.

Sarago Italian
From Italian sarago "fish".

Sarracino Italian
From Neapolitan sarracino, meaning "Saracen", a term used to refer to a variety of ethnic and religious groups, including a nomadic people from Sinai, Muslims, and pirates from the Mediterranean.

Sassu Italian
From Sardinian sassu "stone".

Sbaraglia Italian
From sbaragliare "to defeat, to overcome".

Scafata Italian
Possibly denoting someone from the Italian town Scafati, from Latin scapha "skiff, light boat". Alternately, may be from Italian scafare "to husk peas", either literally referring to someone's occupation, or from the figurative meaning of "to make more confident; alert, shrewd".

Scanagatta Italian
Probably means "cat killer", from Italian scannare "to slaughter, to cut the throat of" and gatto "cat", with the figurative meaning of "cheat, scoundrel". (Compare Pelagatti)... [more]

Scanarotti Italian
Meaning uncertain, possibly a nickname given to a boastful person.

Scanavacca Italian
Possibly an occupational name for a butcher, from scannare "to slaughter, to cut the throat of" and vacca "cow".

Scanavino Italian
Meaning uncertain, possibly related to scanalare "to cut a groove, to plough" and vino "wine".

Scannabissi Italian
Possibly from scannare "to slaughter, to cut the throat of" and biscio "snake". Alternately, the first element may be from an archaic form of zanna, "tooth (of an animal)".

Scannapieco Italian
Occupational name for a butcher, from scannare "to slaughter, to cut the throat of" and piecuro "sheep, lamb".

Scannella Italian
Possibly from Italian scannellare "to channel, to cut a groove", itself from Latin scamnum "ridge (of earth formed by plowing)".

Scarano Italian
Means "marauder, bandit".

Scarselli Italian
From scarsella "purse", a type of bag hung around the neck to keep money in. Possibly indicated a wealthy person.

Scatena Italian
From scatenare "to provoke, stir up, unleash", probably a nickname for a troublemaker.

Schiazza Italian
From chiazza "stain, blot", perhaps given to someone with a prominent birthmark. Might also from a regional dialect, meaning "piazza, town square".

Scime Italian
Possibly from the given name Simone 2, from Shimei or Shemesh, or from the Arabic root word شمس (shams or sams) "sun".

Scimia Italian
From an archaic form of Italian scimmia "monkey", from Ancient Greek σιμός (simos) "snub-nosed". Has figurative meanings of "drunk" and "imitator, mimic, aper".

Scorrano Italian
Denotes someone from Scorrano, Italy. Coincides with scorrano "to run, to flow".

Scurti Italian
Possibly from Neapolitan curto "short".

Scuteri Italian
Variant of Scuderi.

Scutti Italian
From Sicilian scutu, "shield".

Secchi Italian
Probably related to Italian secco "thin, dry". May alternately derive from secare "to cut", Sardinian seghi "sixteen", segete "harvest, harvest fodder", or a shortened form of seneche "old, aged".

Sedda Italian
From a place name in Sardinia, meaning "top of a mountain". May alternately derive from Sardinian sedda "saddle", indicating the bearer's occupation.

Serrao Italian
Probably from a dialectical term meaning "closed, shut".

Sette Italian
Means "seven". Probably a nickname for the seventh child of a family, though it could derive from a place name containing the element.

Siddi Italian
From the name of a municipality in Sardinia, possibly deriving from Vulgar Latin casilli "huts, farmhouses".

Siddu Italian
From Sardinian siddu "seal, brand", or the related siddai/re "to seal, to tighten", from which come the phrases 'siddai is dentis' "to grit one's teeth" and 'siddàu siast ingùnis' "may you be sealed there", the latter of which would have been affectionately said to a child that wouldn't stay still.

Silesu Sardinian
Meaning unknown.

Sipala Italian
From Sicilian sipala "hedge".

Sirota Russian
From Russian сирота (sirota) "orphan", perhaps given to a foundling, or a nickname for someone who was poorly-dressed.

Slongo Italian
Variant of Longo.

Soderini Italian
Possibly related to French soudoyer "to bribe", referring to paid mercenaries. Alternately, an elaborate form of Sodero.

Sodero Italian
Probably related to the Greek name Soter, from Ancient Greek σωτήρ (sōtḗr) meaning "saviour".

Solinas Italian
Meaning uncertain; could be related to Latin solum, from which comes Italian suolo "earth, ground, soil" and suola "sole (of the foot or shoe)", or from Italian salina "salt pan, salt marsh".

Sollai Italian
Habitational name from Mount Sollai.

Sorella Italian
Means "sister". Nickname for someone known for behaving in a sisterly manner, or perhaps like a nun.

Sorgato Italian
From Italian sorgo "sorghum".

Sorgente Italian
From sorgente "spring, rising water".

Spalla Italian
Means "shoulder".

Spallone Italian
From spalla "shoulder, back", indicating someone who carried things on their shoulders. The modern translation is "smuggler". Alternately, may be an elaboration of Spalla.

Speca Italian
From a variant of spiga "spike, ear (of grain)"

Splendente Italian
From Italian splendente "bright, shining", supposedly given to an infants abandoned at orphanages on sunny days.

Squitieri Italian
Variant of Scuteri.

Staffieri Italian
Means "footman, groom", ultimately from staffa "stirrup".

Stampone Italian
Meaning uncertain. Possibly from Italian stampare "to print, to stamp", or from Tuscan stampo "tree stump".

Stasi Italian
From the Roman pranomen Statius.

Sticca Italian
Possibly from a dialectical word meaning "long shovel".

Stornelli Italian
Meaning uncertain; may be from storno "starling", or directly from stornelli, an Italian lyric or folk song.

Tacconi Italian
Possibly from Italian taccone "patch".

Tamburini Italian
Means "drummer", from Italian tamburo "drum".

Taris Italian
Meaning unknown, probably from Sardinian.

Tartaglia Italian
From Italian tartagliare "to stutter".

Tassi Italian
Could be a patronymic form of the given name Tasso, indicate the bearer is from one of several municipalities called Tasso, or be a nickname from Italian tasso meaning "badger (animal)" or "yew".

Tenaglia Italian
From tenaglia "pincers".

Tetta Italian
Means "boob, tit" in Italian.

Ticozzi Italian
Possibly derived from the given name Ardito or its diminutive forms Ardizzo or Ardizzone.

Tizzoni Italian
From Italian tizzone "embers, live coal; firebrand", probably a nickname for a troublemaker or revolutionary.

Todde Italian
From a modification of Latin tollere "to lift, to raise; to destroy". Alternately, may derive from the medieval Sardinian name Totolle.

Todeschini Italian
From Italian tedesco "German, of Germany".

Tola Italian
Probably from an ancient toponym.

Tontodonati Italian
From Italian tonto "foolish, stupid" and the given name Donato.

Torta Italian
Probably from Italian torto "twisted, bent, crooked", or the related French tort "wrong, deviated".

Triarico Italian
Possibly an altered form of Tricarico.

Tricarico Italian
Denoting someone from the province of Tricarico, in Basilicata.

Troia Italian
Could derive from the name of a town in Foggia, or be a nickname derived from Italian troia "sow, female pig", which has a slang meaning of "slut".

Troth English
From a nickname meaning "truth" or "oath, pledge, promise", given to someone known to be truthful or loyal, or perhaps known for swearing oaths.

Trovatelli Italian
Means "foundling" in Italian, literally trovato "found" and the diminutive suffix -ello.

Trovato Italian
Given to a foundling or abandoned child, literally "found" in Italian.

Turba Italian
Possibly from Italian turbare, "to disturb, to trouble", itself from Latin turba, "turmoil, disturbance; mob, crowd". Alternately, it could be from the German surname Turba, of uncertain meaning.

Tuttoilmondo Italian
Possibly derived from the French given name Toulemonde, which is either itself derived from the Germanic names Thurmond or Tedmond, or from the phrase tout le monde, literally "all the world", or "everybody"... [more]

Tuveri Italian
Possibly from Sardinian Campidanese tuvera, meaning "pipe of the bellows", indicating someone who worked at a forge.

Uccheddu Italian
From Sardinian uccheddu, "eyelet, buttonhole".

Urbino Sicilian, Italian
Possibly from the name of an Italian town. Could also be from Sicilian urbu or orbu, meaning "blind", in which case it may refer to literal blindness, or a more metaphorical "blind to one's sins", especially in the case of foundlings.

Urgu Italian
From an ancient toponym.

Usai Italian
Possibly from the name of the former village Usani, or alternately, from Sardinian uscare "to burn, to scorch".

Vadalà Italian
Derived from the Arabic given name Abd Allah, meaning "servant of God".

Valsecchi Italian
Denoting someone from the former municipality of Valsecca in Lombardy.

Van Eck Dutch
Means "from Eck", a town in the province of Gelderland in the Netherlands.

Vanini Italian
Possibly from the given name Giovanni.

Vargiu Italian
From the name of a former settlement. Possibly from Latin varius, "many colours, variegated".

Venier Venetian
From the medieval name Venerius, meaning "of Venus, dedicated to Venus".

Venini Italian
Possibly a patronymic from the medieval name Bene, meaning "good".

Vian Venetian
Derives from the given name Viviano, or perhaps Ottaviano.

Villani Italian
Derives from Latin villa "village, farm, settlement", related to Italian villano "peasant" or "rude, bad-mannered".

Vinagro Italian
Cognate to Vinagre, meaning "bitter wine, vinegar". Possibly given to foundlings.

Viscuso Italian
From Sicilian viscusu "tough, tenacious, vicious".

Xompero Italian
Meaning uncertain, possibly from Cimbrian somerousch "pack horse", indicating the bearer's strength or occupation. Alternately, may mean "son of Piero".

Xotlanihua Nahuatl
Means "owner of flowering" or "there will be growing" in Nahuatl, probably originating as a personal name.

Zago Italian
Probably from Venetian zago "alter boy", or someone preparing to become a priest. Alternately, may derive from a toponym, such as Massanzago, Lorenzago, Cazzago, Vanzago, or Sozzago.

Zanda Italian
From Sardinian zanda "field poppy".

Zedda Italian
Possibly from Sardinian zedda "cellar" or cedda "herd of animals", indicating someone who was an innkeeper or shepherd.

Zilio Italian
From the given name Egidio, via the dialectic nicknames Gilio or Gilius (compare Giles).

Zorzi Venetian
From a Venetian form of the given name Giorgio.

Zurru Italian
From Sardinian "gush, spring (of water)".