180+ List of Italian Last Names with Meanings

Curious about the stories behind Italian last names? Maybe you’re researching your own family tree or simply find Italian surnames fascinating. You’ve come to the right place!

Italian last names are diverse and often reflect historical occupations, personal attributes, or geographic origins. From common surnames to those based on professions, personal names, physical traits, and locations in Italy, there’s a vast collection of Italian last names to explore.

Whether you’re researching your heritage or simply curious about Italian American last names, this guide has you covered. Scroll down to discover more about Italian surnames and find answers to frequently asked questions.

Common Italian Last Names

While Italian surnames have diverse regional origins, certain last names have become particularly widespread across Italy over time. These common surnames represent family names that have endured as prevalent throughout the country’s many regions and cultures. Some of the most familiar Italian last names include:

1. Amante: This means “Lover” in English. It likely described someone who was passionate or romantic.
2. Artino: While the exact meaning isn’t clear, it might be connected to “arte,” the Italian word for “art,” suggesting a link to artistic pursuits.
3. Bella: This translates to “Beautiful.” It was probably used to describe someone exceptionally attractive or charming.
4. Bianchi: From the Italian word “bianco,” meaning “white.” It could have been a nickname for someone with a fair complexion.
5. Bruno: This comes from the word for “brown.” It might have been a nickname for someone with brown hair or a darker complexion.
6. Colombo: Meaning “dove,” it could have been a nickname for a peaceful person or someone living in a house marked with a dove.
7. Conti: Derived from “conte,” meaning “count.” It was probably used for someone who worked for or was associated with a noble family.
8. Costa: This means “coast” or “rib.” It could describe someone living by the coast or possibly someone with a notable rib.
9. Dal: Likely a part of a compound surname, indicating “from” in Italian.
10. De Luca: Meaning “of Luke,” it denotes a family descending from someone named Luke.
11. Esposito: Traditionally given to abandoned children or those put up for adoption, coming from the Latin “expositus,” meaning “exposed” or “abandoned.”
12. Ferrari: Derived from “ferro,” meaning “iron.” This surname likely described someone who worked with iron, like a blacksmith.
13. Gallo: Meaning “rooster.” It might have been a nickname for a person who was loud or boastful.
14. Greco: Meaning “Greek.” It was probably used for someone from Greece or with Greek ancestry.
15. Marino: This translates to “of the sea.” It could refer to a sailor, fisherman, or someone living near the sea.
16. Ricci: Meaning “curly.” It was likely a nickname for someone with curly hair.
17. Rizzo: Similar to Ricci, this also means “curly” and would describe someone with curly hair.
18. Romano: Meaning “Roman.” It was used for someone from Rome or living in a place called Romano.
19. Rossi: From “rosso,” meaning “red.” It was likely a nickname for someone with red hair or a ruddy complexion.
20. Russo: Similar to Rossi, Russo means “red,” but is from a Southern Italian variant, possibly describing someone with red hair or a reddish complexion.

Italian Last Names Based on Occupation

Many Italian surnames originated from the occupations and livelihoods of ancestors, offering insights into the economic and vocational histories of Italian families. Common examples of Italian occupational surnames include:

1. Abate – Derived from the Latin word for “priest.”
2. Aiello/Ajello – Means “field.” A name commonly given to farmers.
3. Ballerini – Likely referring to dancers.
4. Barbieri – Meaning “barbers.”
5. Bonetti – Hatmaker.
6. Carbone – Coal or charcoal.
7. Cardinale – Refers to a “cardinal” or a high-ranking church official.
8. Cattaneo – Captain.
9. Conte/Conti – Companion of the count. Likely a name for someone who worked for a count or on their estate.
10. Coppola – Means “little hat” in the Neapolitan dialect. Given to hat makers.
11. Fabbri – Craftsman.
12. Farina – Flour. A name for a baker.
13. Ferrari – Stems from the Latin word “ferro” for iron. Refers to someone who was a blacksmith. Now synonymous with fast, luxury cars.
14. Giudice – Judge.
15. Laguardia – Guardian or watchman.
16. Lanaro – Wool maker.
17. Pesci – Fisherman.
18. Robustelli – Refers to a robust or strong individual, potentially a nickname for a laborer.
19. Saccone – A maker of bags.
20. Sartorre – Tailor.
21. Scavo – Excavator or digger.
22. Uberti – Manufacturer.
23. Verga – Shepherd.
24. Zappa – Worker or laborer.
25. Zuccaro – Likely related to sugar, possibly a name for someone who worked with sugar or was a confectioner.

Italian Last Names Based on Personal Names

Italian last names can also derive directly from personal names or nicknames that became surnames over generations. Here are some Italian surnames that originated from first names or nicknames:

1. Adami – Derived from “Adam,” meaning “son of Adam” in Italian.
2. Agosti – Derived from “Agosto,” meaning “August” in Italian. It signifies “son of Agosto.”
3. Alfonsi – Derived from “Alfonso,” a personal name meaning “noble and ready” in Italian. It signifies “son of Alfonso.”
4. Bonaccorso – A surname meaning “good-hearted” or “well-intentioned” in Italian.
5. Colombo – Derived from “Colombo,” meaning “dove” in Italian. It could be a nickname for a peaceful person or someone associated with a dove.
6. D’Amico – Means “son of a friend” in Italian.
7. D’Angelo – Means “son of Angelo” in Italian. Another variation is D’Angeli.
8. DeLuca – One of the oldest family names, it derives from the Latin name “Lucas,” meaning “light” or “illumination.” It indicates “son of Luca” or “descendant of Luca.”
9. DeSantis – Derived from “Santis,” referring to the Latin word for holy or devout. It was a name given to ancestors of a religious man.
10. Di Luca – Means “son of Luca” in Italian.
11. DiMaggio – Derived from “di Maggio,” meaning “of May” in Italian. It traditionally refers to the eldest son born in May.
12. Fausti – Derived from “Faustus,” meaning “fortunate” or “lucky” in Latin.
13. Gentile – Means “kind” or “gentle” in Italian.
14. Guiliani – Derived from the personal name “Giuliano,” meaning “youthful” in Italian.
15. Messina – Derived from the city of Messina in Sicily, indicating someone from that region. It can also refer to the middle child.
16. Pagani – Means “pagan” in Italian, originally referring to someone who was not Christian.
17. Pepe – Derived from the Italian word for “pepper,” possibly indicating a person with a fiery temperament.
18. Rinaldo – Derived from a Germanic personal name composed of “ragin” (counsel) and “wald” (rule).
19. Valentino – Derived from “Valentino,” meaning “valiant” or “strong” in Italian.

Italian Last Names Based on Physical or Personality Trait

Many Italian surnames find their origins in the notable physical traits or personalities of ancestors. These descriptive names could refer to appearance, from hair color to body type, or capture defining character qualities like strength, meekness, or a fiery temperament. Sometimes used as nicknaming tradition, they offer an intimate glimpse into the personal identities and reputations of Italian families from the past.

Common Italian last names derived from physical or personality traits include:

1. Accardi – Derived from “Accardo,” which means “favored with good omens” in Italian.
2. Accetta – Means “axe” in Italian, possibly indicating someone who worked as a woodcutter or was strong like an axe.
3. Agosti – Stems from “Agosto,” meaning “August” in Italian, suggesting someone born in August or associated with this month.
4. Amato – Derived from the Latin word “amatus,” meaning “dear one” or “beloved” in Italian.
5. Argento – Means “silver” in Italian, possibly indicating someone who worked with silver or had a silvery appearance.
6. Barone – Means “baron” in Italian, indicating someone who may have had noble or aristocratic connections, or was brave.
7. Bellagamba – Means “beautiful leg” in Italian, likely a descriptive surname.
8. Bernardi – Derived from Germanic roots, meaning “strong as a bear” in Italian.
9. Bertelli – Means “intelligent” in Italian, likely referring to someone known for their intellect.
10. Bianchi – Means “white” in Italian. It was given to individuals with fair skin or blond hair.
11. Bianco – Also means “white” in Italian, a variation used for pale-skinned individuals.
12. Bruno – Means “brown” or “dark-skinned” in Italian. Variations like Bruni and Brunaldi also indicate dark complexions.
13. Colombo – Means “dove” in Italian, possibly indicating a peaceful person or someone associated with doves.
14. Donatelli – Derived from “Donato,” meaning “gifted” or “given” in Italian.
15. Esposito – Means “exposed” in Italian, historically given to abandoned children or orphans.
16. Fabbri – Means “craftsman” in Italian, indicating someone who worked as a smith or a craftsman.
17. Farina – Means “flour” in Italian, likely indicating someone who worked as a miller or baker.
18. Ferrari – Derived from “ferro,” meaning “iron” in Italian, indicating someone who worked with iron or steel.
19. Gallo – Means “rooster” in Italian, possibly indicating someone with a cocky or bombastic attitude.
20. Gentile – Means “kind” or “gentle” in Italian, indicating a person with good manners.
21. Grasso – Means “fat” or “stout” in Italian, referring to someone who was overweight.
22. Greco – Means “Greek” in Italian, indicating someone of Greek origin or descent.
23. Guerra – Means “war” in Italian, indicating someone associated with military or warlike qualities.
24. Leone – Means “lion” in Italian, indicating strength or courage.
25. Longo – Means “tall” or “long” in Italian, referring to someone of considerable height.
26. Maggio – Means “May” in Italian, indicating someone born in the month of May or associated with this time.
27. Mancini – Means “left-handed” or “ambidextrous” in Italian.
28. Manzo – Means “calf” or “young bull” in Italian, possibly indicating a robust or strong person.
29. Mariano – Means “of Mars” or “warlike” in Italian, indicating martial qualities.
30. Marmo – Means “marble” in Italian, indicating someone who worked with marble or had a polished appearance.
31. Mazza – Means “mace” or “club” in Italian, possibly indicating someone who was strong or sturdy.
32. Morelli – Means “dark-haired” or “dark-complexioned” in Italian, often associated with people of Moorish descent.
33. Moretti – Means “dark-haired” in Italian, similar to Morelli.
34. Notaro – Means “notary” in Italian, indicating someone who worked as a notary or scribe.
35. Pavone – Means “peacock” in Italian, possibly indicating someone with a colorful or flamboyant personality.
36. Pellegrino – Means “pilgrim” in Italian, indicating someone who undertook a pilgrimage.
37. Pelosi – Means “hairy” or “hairy person” in Italian.
38. Ricci – Means “curly-haired” in Italian.
39. Rosa/Rose – Means “rose” in Italian, referring to the flower or a rosy complexion.
40. Rossi – Means “red” in Italian, often referring to red-haired individuals or those with a ruddy complexion.
41. Russo – Means “red-haired” in Italian, similar to Rossi.
42. Sabbato – Means “Sabbath” in Italian, indicating someone born on a Saturday.
43. Saccone – Means “bag” or “sack” in Italian, indicating a maker of bags or sacks.
44. Sala – Means “hall” in Italian, derived from Hebrew origins meaning “gentle” or “peaceful.”
45. Testa – Means “head” in Italian, indicating someone with a prominent head or mind.
46. Valentino – Means “brave” or “courageous” in Italian, from the Latin “valens.”
47. Vero – Means “true” in Italian, indicating someone trustworthy or faithful.
48. Vitale – Means “life” in Italian, indicating vitality or life-affirming qualities.
49. Vittore – Means “victor” or “conqueror” in Italian, indicating someone victorious or successful.
50. Volpe – Means “fox” in Italian, possibly indicating someone cunning or sly.

Italian Last Names Derived from Italian Locations

Many Italian surnames have their roots in the geographic locations ancestors called home. These last names based on towns, cities, regions or even landscape features reveal where families lived, worked or owned land before immigrating. Such location-based surnames offer a glimpse into an Italian family’s geographic origins.

Here’s a list of Italian last names that are derived from Italian locations or geographic features, along with their likely origins:

1. Abruzzese – Indicates someone from the Abruzzo region of Italy.
2. Corrente – Means “current” in Italian, possibly indicating someone who lived near a river or strong current.
3. Costa – Means “coast” in Italian, indicating someone who lived near the coast.
4. Dinapoli – Indicates someone from Naples (Napoli in Italian).
5. Fiore – Means “flower” in Italian, possibly indicating someone who lived near flower fields.
6. Fiorella – Diminutive form of Fiore, also meaning “flower.”
7. Florentino – Indicates someone from Florence (Firenze in Italian).
8. Fontana – Means “fountain” or “water source” in Italian.
9. Franzese – Indicates someone from France or with French heritage.
10. Giordano – Refers to the river Jordan, with religious connotations.
11. Greco – Means “Greek” in Italian, indicating someone of Greek origin or descent.
12. Leccese – Indicates someone from Lecce, a city in southern Italy.
13. Lombardi – Indicates someone from Lombardy, a region in northern Italy.
14. Marino – Means “of the sea” in Italian, indicating someone who lived by the sea.
15. Messina – Indicates someone from Messina, a city in Sicily.
16. Milano – Indicates someone from Milan (Milano in Italian).
17. Monti – Means “mountain” in Italian, indicating someone who lived near mountains.
18. Pagano – Means “pagan” in Italian, indicating someone from a rural area.
19. Parisi – Indicates someone from Paris or with French heritage.
20. Pisano – Means “from Pisa” in Italian.
21. Provenza – Means “Provence” in Italian, indicating someone from Provence, France.
22. Rapallino – Indicates someone from Rapallo, a town in Liguria, Italy.
23. Riva – Means “shore” or “bank” in Italian, indicating someone who lived near a riverbank or shore.
24. Romano – Means “from Rome” in Italian.
25. Scotto – Originates from Scotland, indicating someone with Scottish heritage.
26. Silvestri – Means “of the woods” or “forests” in Italian, indicating someone who lived near or in wooded areas.
27. Sorrento – Indicates someone from Sorrento, a town in Campania, Italy.
28. Tarantino – Indicates someone from Taranto, a city in southern Italy.
29. Veronese – Indicates someone from Verona, a city in northern Italy.
30. Vinci – Indicates someone from Vinci, a town near Florence, Italy, famously associated with Leonardo da Vinci.

Italian American Last Names

Italian American last names reflect the diverse origins and histories of immigrant families from Italy. Whether preserved or anglicized over time, these surnames offer a window into the Italian American experience. Here are some of the most common Italian American surnames and their meanings:

1. Bianchi – Means “white” in Italian, often given to those with fair complexions or light hair.
2. Bosco – Means “woods” or “forest” in Italian, indicating an ancestor who lived near a wooded area.
3. Bruno – Refers to someone with dark or tan skin, originating from the Italian word for “brown.”
4. Buscemi – Derived from “buscare,” Sicilian dialect for “to search,” possibly indicating an ancestor who was a seeker or searcher.
5. Colombo – Means “dove” in Italian. Originally a name given to orphans or foundlings.
6. DeVito – Means “son of Vita” in Italian, where Vita means “life,” indicating paternal lineage.
7. DiCaprio – Means “son of Caprio” in Italian, indicating paternal lineage.
8. Esposito – Means “exposed” in Italian, historically given to foundlings or abandoned children.
9. Fanucci – Derived from “fanale,” meaning “lantern” in Italian, possibly indicating an ancestor who worked with lanterns.
10. Fatone – Means “big” or “fat” in Italian, possibly describing an ancestor who was stout or large.
11. Fazio – Derived from the Italian word “fede,” meaning “faith” or “loyalty.”
12. Ferlinghetti – A surname of uncertain origin, possibly related to a place name or occupation.
13. Ferraro – Derived from “ferro,” meaning “iron” in Italian, indicating an ancestor who worked with iron.
14. Furibondo – Means “furious” or “raging” in Italian.
15. Giordano – Means “Jordanian” in Italian, referencing the river Jordan with religious connotations.
16. Langella – Originates from a diminutive of the Italian word “lancia,” meaning “spear.”
17. Lombardi – Means “inhabitant of Lombardy,” a region in northern Italy.
18. Longo – Means “tall” or “long” in Italian, indicating someone of tall stature.
19. Manchin – A surname of Italian origin, possibly derived from a place name or occupation.
20. Marino – Means “of the sea” in Italian, indicating someone who lived near or worked with the sea.
21. Mazzo – Possibly derived from “mazzo,” meaning “bunch” or “bouquet” in Italian.
22. Micucci – A surname of Italian origin, possibly derived from a place name or occupation.
23. Morino – A surname of Italian origin, possibly derived from a place name or occupation.
24. Pacino – A surname of Italian origin, possibly derived from a place name or occupation.
25. Pesci – Means “fishes” in Italian, indicating someone who worked as a fisherman.
26. Piazza – Means “square” or “plaza” in Italian, possibly indicating someone who lived near a town square.
27. Pinto – Means “painted” or “colored” in Italian, possibly describing someone with colorful characteristics.
28. Pirlo – A surname of Italian origin, possibly derived from a place name or occupation.
29. Pugliesi – Means “from Apulia” in Italian, indicating someone from the region of Apulia (Puglia).
30. Ramone – A surname of Italian origin, possibly derived from a place name or occupation.
31. Remini – A surname of Italian origin, possibly derived from a place name or occupation.
32. Rimini – A surname of Italian origin, indicating someone from the city of Rimini in Italy.
33. Rizzo – A surname of Italian origin, possibly derived from a place name or occupation.
34. Romano – Means “from Rome” in Italian.
35. Rosselini – A surname of Italian origin, possibly derived from a place name or occupation.
36. Rossi – Means “red” in Italian, often indicating someone with red hair or a ruddy complexion.
37. Russo – Similar to Rossi, also meaning “red-haired” or “russet.”
38. Santoro – Means “of the saint” in Italian, indicating someone with a strong religious connection.
39. Stallone – Means “stallion” in Italian, indicating someone with qualities associated with a stallion (strong, vigorous).
40. Tarantino – Indicates someone from Taranto, a city in southern Italy.
41. Tocci – A surname of Italian origin, possibly derived from a place name or occupation.
42. Toliver – A surname of Italian origin, possibly derived from a place name or occupation.
43. Trentino – Indicates someone from the Trentino region of northern Italy.
44. Turturro – A surname of Italian origin, possibly derived from a place name or occupation.
45. Zulo – A surname of Italian origin, possibly derived from a place name or occupation.

Frequently Asked Questions

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