Motta Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Motta last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Motta last name
Meaning of the Motta last name: mound, fortified hill. Motta comes from a word for a mound or fortified hill. It is common in northern Italy and Sicily. A curious detail: many Italian villages are named Motta, after the early castles built on mounds.
Arms associated with the Motta name
Italian heraldry was full of lions, roses and lilies, symbols of courage, beauty and loyalty, and the Motta name belongs to that colourful tradition.
Get your full Motta family history
This is only a glimpse of the Motta story. The full Motta history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Motta coat of arms. Get the full Motta report.
Motta name FAQ
What does the Motta name mean?
Mound, fortified hill. Common variants include Motti, Della Motta, Mottola.
Where does the Motta surname come from?
It originates in Italy, and is also found in Switzerland, the United States and Brazil.
Is there a Motta coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Motta coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: De Felice, Dizionario dei cognomi italiani; Caffarelli & Marcato, I cognomi d'Italia.