Italian Surnames: Meaning, Origin & Coat of Arms (page 2 of 3)

Foundling (Latin expositus)

Smiths, craftsmen

From the personal name Fabiano

"falcon", a falconer

Falcon, falconer

Flour; miller

"broad bean"

From Bonifazio, good fate

From the personal name Federico (Frederick)

From the personal name Ferrante (Ferdinand)

From Ferrara

Blacksmith (from ferraro)

Blacksmith

Little iron

Iron; smith

"feast", a feast-day child

From the personal name Filippo (Philip)

Flower

Florentine

Spring or fountain

A nickname for a strong or brave person

From Franco, "free" or "a Frank"

Free man, or Frank

"Smokes the cocks" (a nickname)

Dark-haired

From the personal name Gabriele (Gabriel)

Gallant, courteous

From Galasso (Galahad)

Rooster

Rooster

From Galluccio, a pet form of Gallo

Carnation

Cats; catlike

Cat

Someone from Genoa

Noble, courteous

From Giannino (John)

Lily

From the personal name Gioia, "joy"

Jordan (from the river)

Son of Giorgio (George)

From Giovannino, a pet form of Giovanni

Of Giuliano (Julian)

Just, fair

Of the plump one

Stout, fat

Greek

Son of Grimaldo

From Guarino, a Germanic personal name

War; a fierce or quarrelsome man

Son of Guido

From a Greek word for a deacon

A name given to foundlings, "innocents"

From the personal name Lamberto

From Lando

"lance"

From lauro, "laurel", or the personal name Lauro

From the personal name Lazzaro (Lazarus)

Son of Leonardo

Lion

From the personal name Leone, "lion"

"hare"

From Licata

From Locatello near Bergamo

From Lombardy; also a merchant or banker

Lombard, northerner

Tall

The tall one

"the red-haired one", from lo russo

From Lucca

From the personal name Luciano

Wolf

"May", a May child

Locksmith, tinker

Thin

Bad head, stubborn

Left-handed

Left-handed

Man of peace

From Mantua

"bullock"

Marquis

"marquis"

Of little Marco

Son of Marco (Mark)

From Marcone, a form of the name Marco

From Mariano (Marianus)

Little Marino

Of Marino; seafarer

Of the sea

Son of Mariotto (little Mario)

From marra, a hoe, for a farm worker

Hoe (farm labourer)

From martello, "hammer", for a smith

Of little Martino

Of Martino (Martin)

Of Mars

From Maso, a short form of Tommaso

From Massa, a place name ("estate, farmstead")

From the personal name Matteo (Matthew)

Club, mace

From Mazzeo, a form of Matteo

"club", or from Matteo

Honey

Honey (beekeeper)

Melon, a nickname or grower's name

A nickname from merlo, "blackbird"

From Messina

From Micheli, a southern form of Michele

From Milan