Italian Last Names
Italy has one of the richest surname traditions in Europe: by some estimates Italy has more distinct last names than any other European country. Most became fixed in the late Middle Ages and Renaissance, when parish records began to require them, and they still reveal something about an ancestor, such as red hair, a blacksmith’s forge, a hometown or a father’s first name.
Below are 100 Italian surnames with their meanings and the regions where they are most common. Use them for genealogy, character naming or simple curiosity. For first names, see our Italian boy names and Italian girl names, or return to the Italian names hub.
The most common Italian last names
These surnames top Italy’s phone directories. Notice how many describe hair color, a pattern also seen in Spanish last names and Portuguese last names.
| Surname | Meaning | Where it’s common |
|---|---|---|
| Rossi | Red-haired | Italy’s #1 surname; strongest in the north and center |
| Russo | Red-haired (southern form) | Campania, Sicily, Calabria |
| Ferrari | Blacksmith | Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna |
| Esposito | Exposed; given to abandoned children | Naples |
| Bianchi | White-haired or fair-skinned | Lombardy, Piedmont |
| Romano | Roman; from Rome | Nationwide |
| Colombo | Dove | Milan and Lombardy |
| Ricci | Curly-haired | Central and northern Italy |
| Marino | Of the sea; sailor | Coastal south, Sicily |
| Greco | Greek | Calabria, Puglia, Sicily |
| Bruno | Brown-haired | Nationwide, especially the south |
| Gallo | Rooster; a proud or showy man | Piedmont, Campania, Sicily |
| Conti | Count; or a count’s servant | Central Italy |
| De Luca | Son of Luca | Campania, Abruzzo |
| Mancini | Left-handed | Lazio, Marche |
| Costa | Coast, slope, hillside | Liguria, Sicily |
| Giordano | Jordan; often given to children baptized with water from the Jordan | Campania, Sicily, Piedmont |
| Rizzo | Curly-haired (southern form) | Sicily, Veneto |
| Lombardi | From Lombardy | Campania, central Italy |
| Moretti | Little Moor; dark-haired or dark-skinned | Northern and central Italy |
Italian surnames from occupations
Many families took their name from the trade of an ancestor, much like Smith or Miller in English.
| Surname | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Barbieri | Barber | Plural form, common in Emilia |
| Fabbri | Smiths, craftsmen | Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany |
| Sarto | Tailor | Veneto and Piedmont |
| Ferraro | Blacksmith (southern form) | Campania, Calabria |
| Molinari | Miller | Northern Italy |
| Pastore | Shepherd | Southern Italy |
| Notaro | Notary | Southern Italy |
| Cavaliere | Knight, horseman | Puglia, Campania |
| Speziale | Spice seller, apothecary | Sicily |
| Cacciatore | Hunter | Sicily, Campania |
| Pescatore | Fisherman | Coastal regions |
| Vaccaro | Cowherd | Sicily, Calabria |
| Tessitore | Weaver | Southern Italy |
| Medici | Doctors, physicians | Famous as Florence’s ruling family |
| Castellano | Castle warden | Campania, Sicily |
Italian last names from places
A surname like Genovese told neighbors exactly where a newcomer had come from.
| Surname | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Napolitano | From Naples | Campania and beyond |
| Genovese | From Genoa | Sicily, Campania |
| Calabrese | From Calabria | Sicily, Campania |
| Siciliano | From Sicily | Southern Italy |
| Pisano | From Pisa | Southern Italy, Tuscany |
| Veneziano | From Venice | Sicily, Campania |
| Toscano | From Tuscany | Southern Italy |
| Fiorentino | From Florence | Campania, Puglia |
| Milanese | From Milan | Southern Italy |
| Sardo | From Sardinia | Sicily, Campania |
| Fontana | Fountain, spring | Northern Italy |
| Valle | Valley | Northern Italy |
| Serra | Mountain ridge; also a greenhouse | Sardinia, Liguria |
| Villa | Farmstead, country estate | Lombardy |
| Montanari | Mountain dwellers | Emilia-Romagna |
Italian surnames from nicknames and traits
Italians have always been generous with nicknames, and many stuck. Some are complimentary, others cheerfully blunt, which is why they also turn up in lists of funny last names.
| Surname | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Biondi | Blond | Tuscany, Lazio |
| Neri | Black-haired; also short for Ranieri | Tuscany |
| Grasso | Fat, stout | Sicily, Campania |
| Piccolo | Small | Southern Italy |
| Longo | Tall | Southern Italy, Veneto |
| Basso | Short | Veneto, Piedmont |
| Gentile | Kind, noble | Southern Italy |
| Bello | Handsome | Southern Italy |
| Allegri | Cheerful | Tuscany, Emilia |
| Leone | Lion; brave | Sicily, Campania |
| Lupo | Wolf | Southern Italy |
| Volpe | Fox; clever | Southern and northern Italy |
| Caruso | Close-cropped hair; in Sicilian also “boy” | Sicily, Campania; tenor Enrico Caruso |
| Testa | Head; stubborn | Northern Italy |
| Barba | Beard | Southern Italy |
Italian surnames from first names
Patronymic surnames name a father or ancestor. Prefixes like Di, De and D’ mean “of” or “son of.”
| Surname | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Di Stefano | Son of Stefano (“crown”) | Sicily, Abruzzo |
| De Angelis | Son of Angelo | Lazio, Abruzzo |
| Di Giovanni | Son of Giovanni | Sicily, Abruzzo |
| D’Angelo | Son of Angelo (“messenger”) | Southern Italy |
| De Rosa | Son of Rosa, or from a place called Rosa | Campania |
| Martini | Son of Martino (“of Mars”) | Central and northern Italy |
| Marchetti | Little Marco | Tuscany, Marche |
| Santoro | From Ognissanti (All Saints’ Day), often for a child born then | Southern Italy |
| Bernardi | Son of Bernardo (“brave bear”) | Northern Italy |
| Pellegrini | Pilgrim | Northern Italy |
| Benedetti | Son of Benedetto (“blessed”) | Central Italy |
| Rinaldi | Son of Rinaldo (“wise ruler”) | Northern Italy |
| Amato | Beloved | Southern Italy |
| Vitale | Full of life | Southern Italy |
| Donati | Given (by God) | Tuscany; Dante’s wife was a Donati |
Sicilian and Southern Italian last names
Southern Italy sent the largest share of emigrants to the US, so these names are very familiar in American cities. Several echo Greek, Arabic or Spanish influence.
| Surname | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Mancuso | Left-handed (southern dialect) | Sicily, Calabria |
| Messina | From the Sicilian city of Messina | Sicily |
| La Rosa | The rose | Sicily |
| Lo Bianco | The white one; fair-haired | Sicily |
| Caputo | Big-headed; stubborn | Campania |
| Palumbo | Dove (southern form) | Campania, Puglia |
| Catalano | From Catalonia | Sicily; a legacy of Spanish rule |
| D’Amico | Son of Amico (“friend”) | Sicily, Calabria |
| Gambino | Possibly “little leg” | Sicily |
| Randazzo | From the town of Randazzo | Sicily |
| Barone | Baron | Sicily, Campania |
| Cirillo | From Cirillo (Cyril, “lordly”) | Campania |
Venetian and Northern Italian last names
Northeastern surnames often end in -on, -in or -otti, and Venetian dialect turns Giovanni into Zan and Giorgio into Zorzi.
| Surname | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Zanetti | Little Zane (Venetian for Giovanni) | Veneto, Lombardy |
| Zanon | Big Zane (Giovanni) | Veneto |
| Visentin | From Vicenza | Veneto |
| Trevisan | From Treviso | Veneto |
| Furlan | From Friuli | Friuli, Veneto |
| Marcon | Big Marco | Veneto |
| Zorzi | George (Venetian form) | Venice, Trentino |
| Sartori | Tailors | Veneto |
| Brambilla | From Brembilla, a valley town | Lombardy |
| Bortolotti | Little Bortolo (Bartolomeo) | Veneto, Emilia |
Tips for researching an Italian last name
- Check the ending. -i endings (Rossi) point north or center, -o endings (Russo) often south, and -on or -in endings to Veneto and Friuli.
- Look for the southern twin. Many surnames have paired forms: Rossi and Russo, Colombo and Palumbo, Ferrari and Ferraro.
- Expect spelling changes. US immigration and census clerks often simplified names: D’Angelo became Dangelo, Caputo became Caputi, or letters were dropped.
- Use parish records. Italian civil registration started in the 1800s, but church baptismal records go back much further and are the key to tracing a surname’s village.
- Don’t over-read nicknames. A family called Grasso or Barba didn’t necessarily keep the trait; the name described one ancestor centuries ago.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common Italian last name?
Rossi is the most common surname in Italy, followed by Russo, Ferrari, Esposito and Bianchi. Both Rossi and Russo mean “red-haired.”
What does Esposito mean?
Esposito comes from Latin expositus, “placed outside” or “exposed.” It was given to abandoned children left at churches and orphanages, especially in Naples.
Why do Italian last names end in i or o?
An -i ending is a plural or family form (“of the Rossi family”), more common in the north. An -o ending is a singular form typical of the south.
What does “De” or “Di” mean in an Italian surname?
Both mean “of” or “from,” usually “son of.” De Luca means “son of Luca,” and Di Stefano means “son of Stefano.”
Are Medici and Ferrari real surnames?
Yes. Medici means “doctors” and Ferrari means “blacksmiths.” Both are occupational names that became famous through a family and a company.