This is a list of submitted surnames in which the usage is Italian; and the source is Nickname.
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
AbagnaleItalian Either an occupational name for a shepherd or a person who lived near a sheepfold (derived from Italian abbagnale meaning "good shepherd, good sheepfold"), or a topographic name for someone who lived in a wet or swampy area (from abagnato meaning "drenched, soaked")... [more]
AcocellamItalian Derived from a diminutive of 'acco', related to 'hawk' or 'eagle'
AcquistapaceItalian Means "buy peace" in Italian, from acquista "to buy, to purchase" and pace "peace".
AdipietroItalian From Italian adì Pietro meaning "to tell Peter" or "to appear before Peter", derived from adire "to go to, to tell, to appear before" and the given name Pietro, referring to an informant of or someone presenting cases before Saint Peter
AdornoSicilian Means "honey buzzard" in the Calabrian dialect, a nickname given to someone with a hawklike appearance, or an occupational name for a falconer.
AfflittoItalian Derived from Italian "afflitto" meaning "afflicted" or "troubled".
AguzziItalian Comes from an ancient Roman cognomen, Acutus, also possibly derived from Italian "aguzzo" meaning sharp, pointed.
AmanziItalian Possibly from amate "to love". Alternately, may be from the dialectical word manzu "tame, gentle, docile", or from the given name Mantius.
AmicoItalian Means "friend, companion" in Italian, possibly given as a nickname, but more likely derived from the given name Amico, or perhaps a short form of Bonamico.
AmistadiItalian From the Old Italian word amistade meaning "friendship", possibly given as a nickname, or taken from a personal name.
AmmazzalorsoItalian Means "slaughter the bear" from Italian ammazzare "to kill, to murder" and orso "bear", given as an occupational name to someone who hunted bears, or as a nickname to someone considered to be courageous or bold.
ApicellaItalian Possibly derived from a diminutive of Italian ape "bee", an occupational name for a beekeeper, or perhaps a nickname for an industrious person. Alternatively, it could derive from the Latin cognomen Apicius.
AràbiaItalian, Spanish Ethnic name for someone from Arabia or some other Arabic-speaking country or a nickname for someone who had visited or traded with one of these countries.
ArcidiaconoItalian Means "archdeacon" in Italian, denoting someone who worked for an archdeacon or acted like an archdeacon.
AruItalian Meaning uncertain, possibly from Sardinian aru, a forked branch used to close hedges (possibly related to Latin varus "bent outwards, bow-legged"), or from arru "ring".
AspergesItalian A kind of device used to sprinkle holy water, or the ceremony in which it is used, derived from Latin asperges "you will sprinkle", a conjugation of aspergo "to scatter, to strew (something); to sprinkle (liquid)", taken from the first word of the 9th verse of Psalm 51 (or Psalm 50) in its Latin translation... [more]
AstoreItalian Derived from Italian astore meaning "goshawk", an occupational name for a falconer, or a nickname for a person who had aquiline features or who was cunning by nature.
AtzoriItalian Possibly from Spanish azor "goshawk", otherwise a variant of Atzeri.
AuricchioItalian "A nickname from a dialect variant of orecchio ‘ear’ (from Latin auricula)."
AvaraItalian Feminine form of Italian avaro, meaning "miser" or "mean, stingy, avaricious".
BacigalupoItalian From Ligurian bacigare "to beat with a stick" and lupo "wolf", or from Genoese basigâ "to swing, to tease" and lupo "wolf". Possibly a nickname for someone considered courageous or cowardly, or an occupational name for a hunter.
BaioItalian From a nickname for someone with light brown or reddish-brown hair or beard, from baio meaning "bay horse", ultimately derived from Late Latin badius meaning "red-brown".
BaldoniItalian From the Germanic word "baltha", which means "gallant" or "bold."
BalsanoGerman (Austrian), Italian The roots of the distinguished surname Balzano lie in Austria. The name derives itself from "Balthasar," the name of one of the three Magi who followed the star to Bethlehem, and was popular as both a first name and a family name during the 18th century.... [more]
BarnoItalian, Ukrainian, French, Ancient Aramaic, Russian The surname Barno was first found in the north of Italy, especially in Tuscany. The name occasionally appears in the south, usually in forms which end in "o," but the northern forms ending in "i" are much more common... [more]
BarracoItalian Meaning uncertain, possibly from Arabic بَرَّاق (barraq) "shining, lustrous".
BattelloItalian Though it coincides with Italian battello "boat, dinghy", it probably derives from the given name Bathyllus, a latinized form of a Greek name... [more]
BecciItalian Possibly derived from a dialectic form of vecchio "old", or from Celtic becci "beaks", perhaps indicating someone with a large nose.
BedogniItalian Probably from the archaic term bedogna, a kind of polenta (a dish of boiled cornmeal), or a rosary.
BedoniItalian Probably of French origin, from betun "mud" or bedon "paunch, pot belly".
BeffaItalian Means "joke, prank, trick; mockery" in Italian, a nickname for a practical joker, or perhaps an unlucky person.
BellancaSicilian Originally a nickname derived from Italian bella "beautiful" and anca "hip".
BellanteItalian Derived from the medieval name Bellante meaning "belligerent, combative", ultimately from Latin bellum "war", or perhaps from a derivative of the nickname Bello.
BellinoItalian Means "pretty, sweet, cute" in Italian, a diminutive of Bello. It can originate as a nickname, or derive from the medieval given names Bellina or Bellinus... [more]
BellocchioItalian Means "beautiful eyes", from bello "beautiful" and occhio "eyes", or perhaps from belloccio "good-looking, attractive".
BerniniItalian Bernini was the surname of famous sculptor and architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598-1680).
BevilacquaItalian From Italian bevi l'acqua "drinks water", a nickname likely applied ironically to an alcoholic.
BilancioItalian Means "balance" in Italian, in the sense of "balance sheet, budget" or "assessment, result, outcome". Possibly a nickname for a clerk or accountant, or perhaps for someone financially frugal.
BinottiItalian From Latin albus, "white", derivative of Albino.
BinottoItalian Possible diminutive of Bini or Bino. Possible variant of German Binoth
BiondolilloItalian Probably from Sicilian biunnuliddu "little fair one", a nickname for someone with blonde hair. Compare Biondi.
BirindelliItalian Of uncertain etymology, originating in Tuscany, Italy. Possibly related to the word brindelli "rags, tatters, shreds", indicating a person who wore old, ragged clothes, or who looked worn-out in some way.
BixioItalian From an older form of Ligurian bixo "grey", a nickname for someone with grey hair.
BizzarriItalian From Italian bizzarro, "odd, eccentric, strange".
BoccadamoItalian Meaning uncertain, first element probably comes from bocca "mouth".
BoccadifuocoItalian Means "mouth of fire", a nickname for someone known for picking fights, or perhaps given to foundlings.
BoccafuscaItalian 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.
BoccalettiItalian Possibly related to boccale, a kind of jug often used for wine. An occupational name for an innkeeper.
BoccalupoItalian Possibly from an Italian saying, in bocca al lupo, literally "in the mouth of the wolf", a way of wishing good luck.
BoccasaviaItalian Means "sensible mouth", given to someone known for being wise, or giving good advice.
BocchinfusoItalian Possibly derived from a diminutive form of Italian bocca "mouth" combined with fuso "melted", from Latin fusus "poured (out)", perhaps a nickname for a talkative or gossipy person.
BocchinoItalian Means "small mouth" in Italian, either referring to a physical attribute of the bearer, or given as a nickname to a talkative person or someone prone to gossiping.
BoffiItalian Possibly from buffare "to blow, to be short of breath", or a related term meaning "bloated".
BraccoItalian 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]
BrauItalian 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".
BuffaItalian From Sicilian buffa, "toad". May alternately derive from Rebuffo.
BugiardiniItalian Means "little liar" in Italian, from bugiardo "lying, false, deceitful; liar" and the diminutive suffix -ino.
BulgariaItalian, 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".
BuonocoreItalian Nickname for a reliable or good-hearted person, derived from Italian buono meaning "good" and core meaning "heart" (ultimately from Latin cor).
ButtacavoliItalian From Italian butta "to throw, toss" and cavoli "cabbages".
ButtafuocoItalian Means "linstock (staff for lighting a cannon)" in Italian, composed of butta "to throw, toss" and fuoco "fire", perhaps a metonymic occupational name for a gunner, or a figurative nickname for someone with a hot temper... [more]
CacioppoItalian, 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").
CadedduItalian From Sardinian cadeddu "puppy, whelp", ultimately from Latin catellus.
CalafioreItalian, Sicilian altered form of Calaciura from the Greek name Kalokiourēs a variant of KalokyrēsKalokyrios meaning "good man".
CalandraItalian from calandra "skylark" (from Latin calandra) probably a nickname for someone with a fine singing voice.
CalcaterraItalian 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.
CannarsaItalian Possibly means "dry throat", a joking nickname for someone who drinks too much.
CannellaItalian Diminutive form of canna "cane, reed, pipe", possibly a nickname for a tall, thin person, or perhaps taken directly from cannella "cinnamon (spice)" as a metonymic name for a spice merchant.
CapaldoItalian Probably a diminutive of Italian capo meaning "head", perhaps used as a nickname for a stubborn or hard-headed person.
CapitaItalian Possibly derived from Sardinian cabitta meaning "little head" or "headboard (of a bed)", or perhaps from a contraction of cabiddáda "large quantity", indicating wealth. It could also derive from a descendant of Latin capitis "head".
CaponeItalian Augmentative of Italian capo meaning "head", used as a nickname for a big-headed or arrogant person.
CaputoItalian Derived from Latin caput meaning "head", used as a nickname for a big-headed or stubborn person.
CasseseItalian From Arabic قِسِّيس (qissis) "priest", perhaps a nickname for someone who worked for or was related to a priest, or perhaps someone who was notably pious.
CeddiaItalian Uncertain etymology. Possibly related to Sicilian and Corsican aceddu "bird", from Latin aucellus "little bird".
CenaItalian Derived from Latin meaning "dinner, meal, supper". Possibly an occupational name for a cook or a waiter. In an alternative representation, it could be given to someone who's known for hosting or being involved in meals or dinners, or may have given this surname to an illegitimate child who was not welcomed at the dinner table.
CentofantiItalian Means "a hundred soldiers on foot" in Italian, derived from Italian cento meaning "(a) hundred" and Italian fanti, which is the plural form of fante meaning "soldier, infantryman"... [more]
CentoreItalian from cento ore "hundred gold pieces" hence probably a nickname for a wealthy person.
CerasuoloItalian Means "cherry red, cherry-coloured" in Italian, either a habitational name from either of two villages, or a nickname.
CervaItalian Possibly derived from Italian cerva "doe, hind", the feminine form of cervo "deer, stag", or perhaps from the Latin cognomen Cervius, which likely also derives from Latin cervus "deer, stag".
CetruloItalian Possibly from Italian citrullo "fool, simpleton", or alternately from Latin citrullus "watermelon".
ChessaItalian Probably from Sardinian chersa "lentisk", a kind of tree.
CianciItalian The surname Cianci is a name for a person of small financial means. The surname Cianfari is derived from the Italian words cianfrone and cianferone, which referred to a type of medieval coin.
CiceroItalian From Sicilian cìciru "chickpea", an occupational name for someone who grew or sold chickpeas, or perhaps a nickname for someone with notable pimples or skin sores.
CiechiItalian Means "blind (people)" in Italian, from Latin caecus "devoid of light, blind; invisible; aimless".
CifrinoItalian (Rare) Possibly from an inflection of Italian cifrare, meaning "to monogram, to abbreviate (a name) to initials; to encode, to cypher", or perhaps a derived term meaning "little nothing". Ultimately from Arabic صِفْر (ṣifr) "empty, zero".
CircelliSicilian Derived from Sicilian circedda meaning "(hoop) earring", originally used to denote someone who wore hoop earrings.
CirrincioneItalian From Sicilian cirrinciò meaning "greenfinch, great tit".
CiuffiItalian Probably from Italian ciuffo "tuft (of hair)".
CocciaItalian Meaning uncertain, possibly from Sicilian cocciu "grain, berry", denoting a kind of gruel; an occupational name for a farmer from Greek κόκκος (kokkos) "grain, seed"; or from Italian coccia "head, shell", referring to someone with a large head, or who was stubborn.
CoccoItalian Possibly from Italian cocco, meaning "darling, favourite" or "hen's egg".
CocuzzaItalian, Sicilian Means "gourd, pumpkin", possibly a metonymic occupational name for a grower or seller of gourds, or perhaps a nickname for someone with a large head or rotund figure.
CodinoItalian Means "pigtail, plait" in Italian, literally "tail's end". Ultimately from Latin cauda "tail (of an animal)". Perhaps given to someone who often wore their hair in such a style, possibly given to orphans or foundlings.
CodispotiItalian A Calabrian surname from Greek οικοδεσπότης (oikodespótis) "host, master of the house".
CogottiItalian From Sardinian cogotto "cockerel, rooster".
ColluItalian From a dialectical form of Italian collo, meaning "neck" or "parcel, package".
ColosiItalian Patronymic or plural form of a pet form of the personal name Nicoloso.
ColumbroItalian Possibly related to Italian colubro "snake, serpent", or perhaps to Latin columba "dove, pigeon".
ComitoItalian From the medieval Latin comitus, meaning "count", or the medieval Greek form of this word, komitos, used as a nickname for someone who put on airs and graces or worked for a count.
ConiglioItalian, Sicilian From coniglio "rabbit" (from Latin cuniculus ) applied as a nickname for a timid person or a metonymic occupational name for a dealer in rabbits... [more]
ConsiglioItalian Means "advice, counsel" or "council, assembly" in Italian, a nickname for a wise, thoughtful, or perhaps fearful individual, or an occupational name for a member of a council.
ConteItalian Means "count (a title of nobility)" in Italian.
ContestabileItalian Means "debatable, questionable" in Italian, perhaps a nickname for an argumentative person, or for someone of dubious respectability.
CopaItalian from the Italian word scopa which means “broom” or “heather”.
CordascoItalian Possibly derived from a dialectical form of Italian cordesco "late-born lamb", or in Old Italian "of or pertaining to cows or sheep".
CornacchiaItalian Means "crow, carrion crow, jackdaw" in Italian, a nickname for someone who was talkative, or thought to resemble a crow or jackdaw in some other way.
CuginoItalian Means "cousin" in Italian, with the archaic meaning "relative, kinsman". It may have been a nickname for a prominent or well-connected individual, or for someone who often used the term as a form of address to others.
CugnascaItalian Meaning uncertain, possibly from Italian cugnata "hatchet" (from Sicilian cugna "wedge"), or cugnata "related, similar; sister-in-law" (from Latin cognata "related by blood"), or cugino "cousin", combined with nascere "to be born, to sprout".
CurcioItalian Could be derived from the Ancient Roman gens Curtius, or directly from a regional descendant of Latin curtus meaning "shortened, short" or "mutilated, broken, incomplete"... [more]
CurcurutoItalian From an Italian nickname derived from curcurutu meaning "speedy, fleet of foot".
CurialeItalian (Rare) In ancient Rome, the curiales (from co + viria, 'gathering of men') were initially the leading members of a gentes (clan) of the city of Rome. Their roles were both civil and sacred. Each gens curialis had a leader, called a curio... [more]
D'AmicoItalian Derived from Italian amico meaning "friend".
DanzaItalian Means "dance" in Italian, a nickname for a dancer. Alternatively, it could derive from an Italian form of the given name Abundantius.
De BonoItalian Derives from the Latin word bonus, meaning "good".
De CurtisItalian Originally denoting someone who was short, or came from a family of short people. A famous bearer of this surname is Italian actor Antonio "Totò" De Curtis (1898–1967).
DefraiaItalian From an archaic Sardinian term, possibly meaning "factory", or from an alteration of frai "brother". Alternately, may mean "from Fraia", a settlement in Italy.
DeianaItalian From Sardinian de "of, from" and jana "fairy, spirit of the woods, sorceress" (from Latin Diana).
Del FrateItalian Derived from Italian del "of the" and frate meaning "monk, friar" or "brother", the latter used as an appellation for close friends or peers as opposed to a literal sense.
Dell'oroItalian Means "of the gold" in Italian. Might indicate someone with blond hair, someone who worked as a goldsmith, or might be descended from the Latin name Aurius.
Del NegroItalian Literally “of or belonging to the black one” hence a name denoting the son, apprentice, associate, or servant of a man bearing this nickname or ethnic name.
Del PopoloItalian Means "of the people", given to foundlings at a time when a small stipend was allotted to their maintenance by the king.
DelvecchioItalian The surname Delvecchio is derived from the Italian word vecchi, which further derives from the late Latin word veclus, which measn old, aged, or elderly.
D'ignotiItalian Means "of the unknown", a descriptive term for foundlings of unknown parentage that evolved into a given name.
DioaiutiItalian Means "may god help you", from dio "god" and aiutare "to help, assist". Most often given to foundlings and orphans.
DiotalleviItalian Means "god raise you", from Italian dio "god, deity" and allevi "to raise (children)". Often given to abandoned or orphaned children.
DivitaItalian Derives from the word vita meaning "life".
DragonettiItalian Diminutive of Drago or Dragone meaning "dragon". Can also derive from a toponym, which may have been named after a person with the given name Dragonetti, or perhaps for the sulphur springs in the area.
DucaItalian from the title of rank duca "duke" (from Latin dux genitive ducis "leader") an occupational name for someone who lived or worked in the household of a duke or a nickname for someone who gave himself airs and graces like a duke... [more]
DuceItalian Means "captain, leader" in Italian, derived from Latin dux, making it a cognate of English Duke.
FacenteItalian Means "industrious, eager" or "doing" in Italian, ultimately from Latin facio "to do; to make, construct, produce".
FaddaItalian Possibly from fada "fairy, fate", or from Sardinian fadda "error", itself from Latin falla "mistake, failure, trick".
FalaguerraItalian Possibly means "make war" in Italian, from fare "to make, to provoke" and guerra "war". Alternately, from a given name of the same origin. ... [more]
FalboItalian Means "dark yellow, tawny; reddish-brown, sorrel" in archaic Italian, from medieval Latin falvus "dun (colour)", ultimately from Proto-Germanic falwaz "pale, grey, fallow".
FanciulacciItalian Probably means "bad child", from Italian fanciullo "child" and the pejorative suffix -accio.
FasanoItalian Probably from Italian fasani "pheasant", a nickname for someone who resembled the bird in appearance or (lack of) intelligence, who hunted them, or who lived in an area populated by them. ... [more]
FataItalian Means "fairy" in Italian, ultimately derived from Latin fatum "fate, destiny", possibly a nickname for a healer, or someone believed to use magic. In some cases, it could instead be a variant of Fato, a short form of given names such as Bonifatius meaning "good fate".
FaticaItalian From Italian fatica "hard work, effort, labour; fatigue".
FebbraioItalian Derived from Italian febbraio meaning "February", perhaps indicating a person who was baptized in that month.
FegatilliItalian From Italian fegato "liver", figuratively used to denote courage. May be occupational, for someone who cooked liver, or a nickname for someone considered to be courageous.
FelliItalian Possibly derived from a nickname based on fello "criminal; evil, wretched; angry; sad, gloomy".
FeraItalian Probably related to modern Italian fiero "fierce, savage, raging; bold, daring; proud", by way of Latin ferus "wild, fierce; untamed" or fera "wild beast".
FerrignoItalian Derived from the Italian adjective ferrigno meaning "made of or resembling iron" (a derivative of Latin ferrum meaning "iron"), applied as a nickname to someone who was very strong or thought to resemble the metal in some other way... [more]
ForteItalian Means "strong" in Italian, either given as a nickname, or taken from the medieval given name Forte, derived from Latin fortis "strong, steadfast, brave"... [more]
FoschiItalian From Italian fosco "dark, murky (colour); gloomy", a nickname referring to the bearer's hair colour or mood. May also stem from the given name Fuscus, of the same meaning.
FracassoItalian Means "din, uproar, fracas; crash, ruin" in Italian, a nickname for a rowdy, destructive person, or for a noisy braggart. Alternatively, it could derive from the Roman cognomen Fraucus.
FrareItalian Probably derived from a North Italian descendant of Latin frater "brother", used to denote a member of a religious order or a close male friend (compare Friar)... [more]
FrigerioItalian Possibly from the Lombard name for hackberry.
FruscianteItalian Derived from the Italian adjective frusciante meaning "rustling, swishing, whishing", which itself is derived from the Italian verb frusciare meaning "to rustle, to swish, to whish". The surname had probably started out as a nickname for someone who made a rustling or whishing sound whenever they walked, which was probably caused by the clothes that they were wearing (in that the clothes must have been made of a certain fabric that is prone to making some noise when touched in any way).... [more]
FumagalliItalian Means "smoke the rooster" in Italian, from fuma "to smoke" and gallo "rooster". Refers to filling a henhouse with smoke to keep the chickens quiet when stealing them, thus making this a name probably given to chicken thieves.
FusilloItalian From Italian fuso "spindle", referring to their occupation, or a nickname based on the bearer's build. Also the name of a type of pasta.
GalanoItalian A Campanian name from Greek γαλανός (galanós) "light blue, pale blue", denoting someone with blue eyes.
GalanteItalian, Portuguese, French, Spanish, Jewish Means "gallant, courteous, chivalrous; romantic" in Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese, both derived from French galant "gentlemanly" or "flirtatious, amorous". In the case of Mordecai Galante, a Spanish exile in 16th century Rome, his courteous manners won for him from the Roman nobles the surname Galantuomo, meaning "gentleman" in Italian, from which Galante was eventually derived.... [more]
GalassoItalian In northern Italy it could derive from Piedmontese galàs "rooster" (see Gallo), while in southern Italy it might derive from Greek γάλα (gala) "milk", as a nickname for someone with pale skin.
GattoItalian Derived from Old Italian gatto meaning "cat", ultimately from Late Latin cattus. This was a nickname for a person who resembled a cat in some way.
GattusoItalian, Sicilian Sicilian and Calabrian variant of Gatto, notably borne by the Italian former soccer player Gennaro Gattuso (1978-).
GavazziItalian Means "revelry, merrymaking, riot" in Italian.
GemitoItalian From a misspelling of genito "to be born", given to sculptor Vincenzo Gemito upon being abandoned at an orphanage as an infant.
GencoItalian From Sicilian jencu "calf, young heifer or bullock", figuratively referring to a large or strong boy, derived from Latin iuvencus meaning "young" or "bullock; young man".
GenerosaItalian, Portuguese, Spanish Means "generous" in several languages, derived from Latin generosus "well-born, noble". It could also be from the given name Generoso, of the same origin.
GhezziItalian Patronymic or plural form of a nickname from Old Italian ghezzo ‘dark’
GiannoneItalian From a diminutive meaning "big Gianni" formed by combining the personal name Gianni with -one, a suffix used to form augmentatives.
GioèItalian This is a short form of given name Gioele used as surname.
GioiItalian Possibly from Sardinian angioi "lamb", a nickname for a shepherd, or from gioi "Thursday".
GioiaItalian Means "joy, delight" in Italian. Can derive from the given name Gioia, from a nickname, or from any of several toponyms in southern Italy.
GiudiceItalian Means "judge, magistrate" in Italian, from Latin iudex, composed of ius "law" and dicere "to say, declare". This was an occupational name for an officer of justice, or a nickname for a solemn and authoritative person.