Italian Submitted Surnames

Italian names are used in Italy and other Italian-speaking regions such as southern Switzerland. See also about Italian names.
usage
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Basilio Italian, Spanish
From the given name Basilio.
Batistuta Italian
Possibly from a diminutive of the given name Battista. A famous bearer is the former Argentinian soccer player Gabriel Batistuta (1969-).
Battiloro Italian
Means "goldworker", specifically an artisan who applied gold foil to other material, from Italian batti "to beat, to strike" and 'l oro "the gold".
Battistella Italian
From St. John the Baptist, the first bearers of this name were devoted to this saint. Another etymology would be a patronymic from the given name Battista, anyway linked to the aforementioned saint.
Bavaro Italian
Ethnic name from bavaro "Bavarian" someone from Bavaria, now part of Germany, but formerly an independent kingdom.
Baviera Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Catalan
Means "Bavaria" in Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and Catalan. Indicating for someone from Bavaria a state in Germany.
Beccari Italian
Variant of Beccaria, "butcher".
Beccaria Italian
From beccaro "butcher", ultimately from becco "goat".
Becci Italian
Possibly derived from a dialectic form of vecchio "old", or from Celtic becci "beaks", perhaps indicating someone with a large nose.
Bedogni Italian
Probably from the archaic term bedogna, a kind of polenta (a dish of boiled cornmeal), or a rosary.
Bedoni Italian
Probably of French origin, from betun "mud" or bedon "paunch, pot belly".
Beffa Italian
Nickname for a practical joker, from Italian beffa "trick, prank".
Belfiore Italian
Means "beautiful (as a) flower", derived from Italian bel "beautiful" combined with Italian fiore "flower". Two Italian sources claim that this surname was derived from the medieval masculine given name Belfiore (which has of course the same meaning), but I can find no evidence that this was an actual given name in medieval Italy... [more]
Belisario Italian, Spanish
From the given name Belisario.
Bellagamba Italian
Means "beautiful leg" in Italian.
Bellanca Sicilian
Originally a nickname derived from Italian bella "beautiful" and anca "hip".
Bellaria Italian
From the place name Bellaria, in Milan, Veneto, Piedmont and Sicily, these homonyms widespread throughout Italy.
Bellocchio Italian
Means "beautiful eyes", from bello "beautiful" and occhio "eyes", or perhaps from belloccio "good-looking, attractive".
Belluomini Italian
Variant and plural of Belluomo
Belmondo Italian
Name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful world". Famous bearers of the name are the French actor Jean-Paul Belmondo (1933-) and the Italian cross-country skier, twice Olympic champion and four times World champion Stefania Belmondo (1969-).
Bena Italian
From a reduced form of the medieval personal name Benenato.
Benanti Italian
From a derivative of Bene, a short form of the various omen names formed with this element (from Latin bene ‘well’), such as Benedetto, Benvenuto, etc.
Benedetto Italian
From the given name Benedetto.
Benelli Italian
The distinguished surname Benelli originated in an area of Italy, known as the Papal States. Although people were originally known only by a single name, it became necessary for people to adapt a second name to identify themselves as populations grew and travel became more frequent... [more]
Benigni Italian
Patronymic form of Benigno. A notable bearer is the Italian actor and comedian Roberto Benigni (1952-).
Benigno Spanish, Italian
From the given name Benigno.
Benni Italian
"son of Benno". From Bennus.
Benvenuto Italian
From the given name Benvenuto.
Berardo Italian
From the given name Berardo.
Beretta Italian
Northern Italian variant spelling of Berretta.
Bergamin Italian
Traced to 1437, Bergamo. A 'bergamini' was known as a person famrmed and sold milk cows
Bergamo Italian
From a Celtic word meaning "mountain".
Bergoglio Italian
From the name of a village in Piedmont, Italy. A notable bearer is Jorge Mario Bergoglio (1936-), better known as Pope Francis, the current head of the Catholic Church.
Bernardini Italian
From the given name Bernardino.
Bernasconi Italian
The surname of BERNASCONI is of Italian origin, a locational name meaning the dweller on or near a small hill. The names of habitation are derived from pre-existing names denoting towns, villages, farmsteads or other named habitations... [more]
Bernini Italian
Bernini was the surname of famous sculptor and architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598-1680).
Berretta Italian
From berretta, originally meaning ‘hooded cloak’ (Latin birrus), later ‘headdress’, ‘bonnet’, hence a metonymic occupational name for a maker of such headgear or a nickname for an habitual wearer.
Berruti Italian
From Late Latin berrutum "cart", indicating someone who drove or made carts.
Bertagni Italian
Bertagni has a lineage in Genoa and one in Lucca. Possibly derives from Gothic, Lombard and Germanic names containing the root germanica bertha (bright) or the celtic bert (bearer).
Bertarelli Italian
Probably from a given name containing the Germanic root behrat "bright" or Celtic berta "to carry, to bear".
Bertarini Italian
Alternate form of Bertarelli.
Berto Italian, Spanish
From the given name Berto.
Bertocchi Italian
Comes from a pet form of the personal name Berto.
Bertoldo Italian
From the given name Bertoldo.
Bertoli Italian
Derived from the given name Bertolo, a variant of Bartolo, which is an Italian short form of Bartholomew.
Bertolucci Italian
From a diminutive of Bertoli.
Bertucci Italian
Diminutive of Berto.
Bertuzzi Italian
variant of Bertucci.
Bettini Italian
Patronymic form of Bettino.
Bettino Italian
From the given name Bettino.
Bevilacqua Italian
From Italian bevi l'acqua "drinks water", a nickname likely applied ironically to an alcoholic.
Biancaniello Italian
It means "white ring".... [more]
Bianchini Italian
Means "little white one"
Bilotti Italian
Variant of Bilotta and Bellotti, from a diminutive of Belli or Bello.
Binetti Italian
Comes from a diminutive of Bino. Italianized form of French 'Binet'. Habitational name from a place called Binetto (named with Latin vinetum ‘vineyard’) in Bari province.
Bini Italian
Comes from the given name Albino and other names ending with -bino ending.
Binotti Italian
From Latin albus, "white", derivative of Albino.
Binotto Italian
Possible diminutive of Bini or Bino. Possible variant of German Binoth
Biondolillo Italian
Probably from Sicilian biunnuliddu "little fair one", a nickname for someone with blonde hair. Compare Biondi.
Birindelli Italian
It is a regional surname of Tuscany common in provinces like Pisa, Lucca or Livorno.... [more]
Biscotti Italian
An occupational surname for someone who sells or bakes biscotti.
Bistolfo Italian
Bistolfi has a lineage between Alessandria Casale Monferrato, Acqui Terme and Prasco, Genoa and Savona. Bistolfo may derive from a modified form of the medieval name Guisulfus. In an act of 1327 Gui-sulfus Cottalorda (Mayor of Breil) signed an important peace agreement with Tenda, probably passing by the name Wisulfus, and therefore by common substitution of W with B.
Bixio Italian
From an older form of Ligurian bixo "grey", a nickname for someone with grey hair.
Bizzarri Italian
From Italian bizzarro, "odd, eccentric, strange".
Blasio Italian
Italian form of Blaise.
Blasioli Italian
Ancient and illustrious Benevento family, called Blasi or Di Blasi, of clear and avita nobility.
Bo Italian
Variant of Bove.
Boccabella Italian
Means "beautiful mouth".
Boccadamo Italian
Meaning uncertain, first element probably comes from bocca "mouth".
Boccadifuoco Italian
Means "mouth of fire", a nickname for someone known for picking fights, or perhaps given to foundlings.
Boccafusca Italian
Possibly means "dark mouth", from bocco "mouth" and fosco "dark, gloomy", a nickname for someone who often spoke ill of others, or perhaps given to foundlings.
Boccaletti Italian
Possibly related to boccale, a kind of jug often used for wine. An occupational name for an innkeeper.
Boccalupo Italian
Possibly from an Italian saying, in bocca al lupo, literally "in the mouth of the wolf", a way of wishing good luck.
Boccanera Italian
Means "black mouth".
Boccarossa Italian
Means "red mouth".
Boccasavia Italian
Means "sensible mouth", given to someone known for being wise, or giving good advice.
Bocchino Italian
The Italian family name is classified as being of nickname origin. The most obvious are those names which are based on a physical characteristic or personal attribute of the initial bearer. In this particular instance, according to the author Emedio De Felice, the family name Bocchino derives from "bocca", meaning "mouth", in turn derived from the Latin word "bucca".De Felice states that this family name may not only have arisen from a nickname which described the mouth in a literal sense, since "bocca" in a figurative sense designated such things such things as intelligence and veracity.... [more]
Boffi Italian
Possibly from buffare "to blow, to be short of breath", or a related term meaning "bloated".
Bolle Italian
Means "bubbles" in Italian, derived from the singular bolla.... [more]
Bolognese Italian
One who came from Bologna.
Bolzonaro Italian
Occupational name for a person who operated a battering ram, derived from Italian bolzone literally meaning "battering ram".
Bompadre Italian
From a medieval given name Bonuspater, meaning "good father", given in hopes that the "eternal father (god)" would look kindly on the child. Was often given to abandoned infants as a surname.
Bonacci Italian
"Bona" comes from the Italian for good, "Buona" and "cci" is ancient Latin form for "man." Thus, "the good man." A derivation of FiBonacci, or "son of Bonacci." Was the name of the famous mathematician, Leondardo de Pisa: Leonardo of Pisa is now known as Fibonacci short for filius Bonacci... [more]
Bonadonna Italian
From buona "good" and donna "woman, lady".
Bonaduce Italian
From the Latin phrase bona duce fortuna, "with good luck as your guide".
Bonaiuto Italian
Derived from the Medieval names Bonaita or Bonaiutus or also from the Medieval Italian bon meaning "good" and aita meaning "help"... [more]
Bonalumi Italian
Means "good light".
Bonamici Italian
Means "good friend", originating as a nickname or from a given name of the same meaning.
Bonanno Italian
From the medieval personal name Bonanno, an omen name meaning "good year". Mainly found throughout southern Italy.
Bonanunzio Italian
Combination of bon which means 'good' + the given name Nunzio.
Bonaparte Italian (Rare), French (Rare), Judeo-Italian (Rare), American (Rare), Caribbean (Rare)
Variant and French form of Buonaparte. This is also a Jewish surname. A notable bearer was Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1820), who ruled as Emperor of France from 1804 through 1814 and again briefly in 1815, who was of Italian (Tuscan) ancestry... [more]
Bonasera Sicilian
Derived from the expression bona sera "good evening". This name was applied as a nickname either for someone who made frequent use of this salutation or as a personal name bestowed on a child as an expression of gratitude in the sense "it was a good evening when you were born".
Bonatti Italian
Comes from the pesonal name 'Bona' which is derived from Latin 'bonus', which means 'great'.
Bonera Italian
Bresciano surname (i.e., concentrated in Brescia, Lombardy, Italy), derived from the medieval Italian given name Bonora or Buonora which in turn meant "(it was a) good hour (when you were born)" from Latin bonus "good" and hora "time, hour".
Bonfanti Italian
From the given name Bonfante, meaning "good child".
Bonfiglio Italian
From the given name Bonfiglio an omen or well-wishing name meaning "good son" from bono "good" and‎ figlio "child, son"... [more]
Bongiorno Italian
Italian from the medieval personal name Bongiorno (composed of bono ‘good’ + giorno ‘day’), bestowed on a child as an expression of the parents’ satisfaction at the birth (‘it was a good day when you were born’).
Bongiovanni Italian
Comes from the personal name Giovanni composed of the elements bon ‘good’ + Giovanni, Italian equivalent of John
Bongiovi Italian
Comes from the given name Giovi, combination of bon 'good' + Giovi.
Bonito Italian, Spanish
From the given name Bonito.
Bonjovi Italian
Variant of Bongiovi, a famous bearer of this name is Jon Bon Jovi.
Bono Italian
Variant of De Bono.
Bonomini Italian
Patronymic or plural form of Bonomo.
Bontempo Italian
From the personal name Bontempo, meaning "good time" from Old Italian bono "good" + tempo "time". This was a name bestowed as an expression of gratitude for the birth of a much wanted child.
Borgnine Italian (Anglicized)
Anglicized form of Borgnino. A notable bearer was the American actor Ernest Borgnine (1917-2012).
Borgo Italian
Borgo is an Italian surname, which means 'village' or 'borough'.
Borrelli Italian
There are three possible origins of this surname. It could derive from some place names located in Catania and Campania -two Italian southern regions. Another hypothesis is that it derives from the Celtic word borro, meaning "proud" or maybe "ditch"... [more]
Borromée Italian (Gallicized)
Gallicized form of Borromeo, used in reference to Saint Charles Borromeo, a 16th-century Italian cardinal.
Boscolo Italian
Habitational name for someone who lived by a forest, derived from Italian bosco meaning "woods, forest".
Bosisio Italian
Probably from the municipality Bosisio in Lombardy.
Boso Italian
From the medieval personal name Boso, from a Germanic personal name derived from a pejorative nickname meaning ‘leader’, ‘nobleman’, or ‘arrogant person’. Compare Dutch Boos.
Bossi Italian
Variant of Bosso.
Bosso Italian
Derived from Italian bosso "box tree", probably applied as a topographic name but possibly also as a metonymic occupational name for a wood carver or turner.
Bottai Italian
From bottaio "cooper, barrel-maker".
Bottaro Italian
Possibly from Italian bottaio "cooper, barrel-maker".
Botticelli Italian
Etymology uncertain. It can derive from the Italian word botte meaning "barrel" and from the occupation bottaio meaning "cooper". In the case of Sandro Botticelli it has probably another origin... [more]
Bovo Italian
Variant of Bove.
Bracco Italian
Either a nickname derived from Calabrian braccu meaning "small, chubby", or probably for someone thought to resemble a hunting dog, from Italian bracco literally meaning "hunting dog, bloodhound"... [more]
Brancaccia Italian (Rare)
Derived from the medieval Italian given name Brancazia, which is the feminine form of the masculine given name Brancazio. For more information, please see the entry for the patronymic surname Brancazio... [more]
Brancaccio Italian
Variant form of Brancazio. There are a few sources that claim that the surname is derived from a place name (which would make it a locational surname), but that claim is incorrect, as all Italian geographical places carrying the name Brancaccio were either established long after the Middle Ages (by which time virtually all Italians already had a hereditary surname) or were named after a person who had Brancaccio for a surname... [more]
Brancaleone Italian
Derived from the medieval Italian masculine given name Brancaleone, which means either "a lion's paw" or "he who captures the lion". In the case of the former meaning, the name is derived from Italian branca meaning "paw, claw" combined with Italian leone meaning "lion"... [more]
Brancatella Italian (Rare)
Derived from the feminine given name Brancatella, which is a diminutive of the medieval Italian given name Brancazia, the feminine form of the masculine given name Brancazio. For more information about this, please see the entry for the patronymic surname of Brancazio... [more]
Brancatello Italian (Rare)
Derived from the masculine given name Brancatello, which is a diminutive of the medieval Italian given name Brancazio, itself ultimately derived from the late Latin given name Brancatius... [more]
Brancato Italian
This surname can be derived from a given name (thus making it a patronymic surname) as well as from a place name (thus making it a locational surname). In the case of a patronymic surname, the surname is derived from the medieval Italian given name Brancato, which is a variant form of the given name Brancazio, itself ultimately derived from the late Latin given name Brancatius... [more]
Brancazio Italian (Rare)
Derived from the medieval Italian masculine given name Brancazio, which itself is derived from Brancatius (also found spelled as Brancaccius and Brancatus), a late Latin corruption of the given name Pancratius... [more]
Branciforte Italian, Sicilian
nickname from branchi "claws hands" (plural of branca) and forte "strong" meaning "strong claw".
Brau Italian
Meaning uncertain, possibly from the dialectical term brau, meaning "wild, untamed" in Sardinian and "brave, fierce" or "bull" in Catalan, or from blau "blue, turquoise".
Brenari Jewish, Italian
Jewish family and possible place-name in N.E.Italy in 1500's.
Briatore Italian
This surname originates from the province of Cuneo in the Piedmont region of Italy. It is probably derived from Piedmontese brijador meaning "postilion, coachman", which itself is ultimately derived from Piedmontese bria meaning "bridles, reins".... [more]
Broccoli Italian, Sicilian
From the Italian plural for “The flowering crest of a cabbage”. Best known as the surname of the (Calabrian-originated) Sicilian American family who made James Bond internationally famous, by making movies (loosely) based on the books where the titular antihero himself appeared.
Brogna Italian
From Sicilian brogna "conch, shell".
Brogni Italian
Possibly from the dialectical term brogneau meaning "wild plum", or figuratively "foreigner".
Brogno Italian
Possibly from the given name Bronius.
Broin Italian
Italian and French form of or comes from Brown.
Brunello Italian
From the given name Brunello.
Bruni Italian
Patronymic or plural form of Bruno.
Buccambuso Sicilian, Italian
Believed to be an Americanization of the surname Buccinfuso
Buffa Italian
From Sicilian buffa, "toad". May alternately derive from Rebuffo.
Buffo Italian
Character in an Opera Buffa; clown, jester, comedian, buffoon.
Bugiardini Italian
Means "little liar" in Italian, from bugiardo "lying, false, deceitful; liar" and the diminutive suffix -ino.
Bulgaria Italian, Spanish
Originally an ethnic name or regional name for someone from Bulgaria or a nickname for someone who had visited or traded with Bulgaria, which is named after the Turkic tribe of the Bulgars, itself possibly from a Turkic root meaning "mixed".
Buonamico Italian (Anglicized)
Di Martino Buffalmacco was a widely renouned painter in Italy cities in Florence, Bologna, Pisa although his work was not known to survived the Great Fire of Italy back in the late 1300 hundreds he was widlely known for asummed work as The Three Dead- Three Living, The Triump of Death, The Last Judgement, The Hell and the Thebasis.... [more]
Buonaparte Italian (Rare)
Derived from the given name Buonaparte
Buonocore Italian
Nickname for a reliable or good-hearted person, derived from Italian buono meaning "good" and core meaning "heart" (ultimately from Latin cor).
Buonopane Italian
Nickname for a person who is "as good as bread", or possibly a metonymic occupational name for a baker, derived from buono meaning "good" and pane meaning "bread".
Burgio Italian
Denoting someone from a town of the same name, ultimately from a Proto-Indo-European word meaning "high, lofty", possibly by way of Arabic بُرْج (burj) "tower", German burg "castle, fortification; settlement", French bourg "burg, market town", or Latin burgus "watchtower, fortified town".
Busalacchi Italian
Means "father of Zallaq", from Arabic أَبُو‎ (abu) "father of" and الزلاق (zallaq) of unknown meaning, possibly related to the given name Salah meaning "righteousness".
Buscemi Sicilian
Name for someone originally from the town of Buscemi in Sicily, derived from the Arabic toponym قلعة أبي شامة‎ (qal'at 'abi shama) meaning "castle of the man with the mole‎" or "castle of (the family of) Abi Shama".
Buschiazzo Italian
It's a surname in northern Italy (Piedmont). It emerges from the German spelling Bosch or Busch and this means "forest" or "wooded area".
Butera Italian
Means “vineyard” or “grapevine” in Italian.
Butta Italian
Italian: from a short form of a compound name formed with butta- ‘throw’, as for example Buttacavoli.Italian: from an old German feminine personal name Butta.Italian: variant of Botta.
Buttacavoli Italian
Nickname composed of the elements butta "throw" + cavoli "cabbages".
Buttafuoco Italian
Nickname composed of the elements butta "throw" + fuoco "fire".
Buzelli Italian
Chris Buzelli is an illustrator.
Cabboi Italian
Probably from Sardinian caboi "capon", a gelded cockerel, perhaps a nickname for a cowardly person.
Cabibbo Italian
Ultimately from the Arabic given name Habib, meaning "beloved, darling".
Caccavale Italian
Possibly a combination of cacare "to shit" and vale "valley".
Cacciatore Italian
Derived from Italian cacciatore meaning "hunter, huntsman", ultimately derived from cacciare meaning "to hunt".
Cacioppo Italian, Sicilian
Derived from Sicilian cacioppu meaning "dried tree trunk", presumably applied as a nickname for someone with wizened skin, or from caciopu meaning "short-sighted" (derived from Greek kakiopes, literally meaning "having bad eyes").
Cadeddu Italian
From Sardinian cadeddu "puppy, whelp", ultimately from Latin catellus.
Cairo Italian
One who came from Cairo.
Calafiore Italian, Sicilian
altered form of Calaciura from the Greek name Kalokiourēs a variant of Kalokyrēs Kalokyrios meaning "good man".
Calamari Italian
From Latin calamarius "relating to a writing reed, ink pen", a name for a scribe, or perhaps a fisherman from the Italian descendant calamaro "squid, calamari".
Calandra Italian
from calandra "skylark" (from Latin calandra) probably a nickname for someone with a fine singing voice.
Calasso Italian
Possibly from the given name Galasso, or from the dialectical word cala "cove, inlet, creek".
Calcaterra Italian
Nickname from calcare meaning "to tread", "to stamp" + terra meaning "land", "earth", "ground", probably denoting a short person, someone who walked close to the ground, or an energetic walker.
Calderone Italian
From the Latin word Caldaria "cauldron". Given to someone who worked as a tinker or tinsmith. Italian cognitive of Calderón.
Caligiuri Italian
Comes from the Greek words "kalos" meaning "beautiful" and "gheros" meaning "elderly," and was often given to children in the hopes that they would retain their beauty in their old age.
Calla Italian
Variant of Cala or Catllà.
Calliari Italian (Latinized, Archaic)
This is an Italian surname, in the north of Italy. Calliari is the result of the deformation of the graphically Calligari, where you can clearly see excision of the letter or character D, which is located in the middle of the surname... [more]
Calogero Italian
From the given name Calogero.
Calzaghe Sardinian, Italian
From Italian meaning "breeches".
Camarata Sicilian
Name from city in Sicily: Cammarata
Cambareri Italian
Variant of Cammareri, an occupational name from Sicilian cammareri meaning "servant".
Cambria Italian
Denoted to someone from Cambria, Sicily, possibly of Arabic origin.
Camerano Italian
From the name of the town of Camerano near the city of Ancona in Marche, Italy.
Camerlengo Italian
From Italian camerlengo "chamberlain".
Camilleri Maltese, Italian
Derived from Italian cammelliere meaning "camel driver".
Camillo Italian
From the given name Camillo.
Cammarata Italian
Habitational name from any of various places in Sicily named Cammarata, all derived from Greek καμάρα (kamara) meaning "vault".
Cammareri Sicilian, Italian
Means "servant, waiter" in Sicilian.
Camoranesi Italian
Originally indicated a person from Camerano, a small town near the city of Ancona in central Italy. A famous bearer of this name is the Argentine-born Italian former soccer player Mauro Camoranesi (1976-).
Campagna Italian
Name for someone originally from any of various locations named Campagna, all derived from Latin Campania, itself from campus meaning "field".
Campanano Italian
Southern Italian:... [more]
Cancrini Italian
Diminutive of Cancro.
Cancro Italian
Derived from Italian cancro "cancer". Probably an occupational name for a person who catches, cooks, sells crabs.
Candela Spanish, Italian, Sicilian, Catalan
Either an occupational name for a chandler (a candle maker or candle seller) or a nickname for a tall thin person, derived from candela meaning "candle" (from Latin candela).
Candeloro Italian
Italian cognate of Candelario.