Italian Last Names

Five real Italian last names per press, most with the meaning a dictionary gives; Italy's 100 most common are marked.

Italian Last Names

  1. De StefanoDe + Stefano. US census rank 5,080.
  2. GiulianiPatronymic from the personal name Giuliano. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 15,558.
  3. GiordanoMeaning: Jordan. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 2,273.
  4. RiccardiFrom the personal name Riccardo (“Richard”). US census rank 11,534.
  5. RuggeriFrom the given name Ruggero (cognate with English Roger). US census rank 16,290.

Next step Give this character a jobDraw a personality for a character

How it works

These Italian last names are real: 328 surnames, the 100 most common in Italy among them, most with what the name meant. Rossi is red, Ferrari a smith, and Esposito, exposed, was a foundling's name.

Read the full guide

Common Italian last names first

This Italian last names list opens with Italy's 100 most common, in A to Z order; the dropdown keeps them or the 228 others. Under More filters, In the US census keeps the 76 popular Italian last names of the US top 5,000. For Italian American last names start there (Russo is rank 740); the census counts everyone with a spelling, and most US bearers of Franco and Villa are Hispanic.

Italian last names and meanings

Most cards carry the first sentence of a dictionary entry: Riccio was given to someone with curly hair, Gambino to someone with small legs. Ending sorts by the last letter: 138 names end in -o and 85 in -i.

Tips
  • For Italian last names starting with L, pick L in the letter row under More filters: 15 names.
  • Italian last names starting with C number 37 here, and Italian last names starting with G 30.
  • Some endings point to a region: -u, -as and -is to Sardinia, -aro and -isi to Sicily, -iello to Campania.

Questions and answers

What are the most common Italian last names?

Rossi, Russo, Ferrari, Esposito and Bianchi lead Wikipedia's list of the most common surnames in Italy. All 100 names of that list are on this page, marked as a band; the exact order stays with its source.

What are old Italian last names?

Many go back to the Middle Ages, when a family was called by an ancestor's name in the plural: Filippo of the Ormanno family was Filippo degli Ormanni. That habit is why so many Italian last names end in -i.

Is this an Italian last name generator?

Yes. Each press deals five real Italian surnames at random from the 328, and a filter narrows the draw to Italy's 100 most common, a US census band, an ending or one letter.

Why do some cards give no meaning?

A meaning is printed only where the name's dictionary entry, or Wikipedia's table for Italy's 100, states one. 4 of the 328 cards carry a band and a rank and nothing more.

More tools

Browse People and Jobs

All 328 last names

Among Italy's 100 most common 100

  • Amato Meaning: beloved. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 2,951.
  • Barbieri From barbiere (“barber”). Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 7,704.
  • Barone From barone (“baron”). Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 3,013.
  • Basile Meaning: Basil. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 4,825.
  • Battaglia Meaning: battle. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 4,376.
  • Bellini Meaning: little beautiful one. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 22,253.
  • Benedetti Meaning: blessed/son of Benedict. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 11,273.
  • Bernardi From the given name Bernardo (“Bernard”). Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 10,501.
  • Bianchi Meaning: white. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 4,196.
  • Bianco Meaning: white. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 4,454.
  • Bruno Meaning: brown. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 1,160.
  • Caputo Meaning: big headed. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 3,666.
  • Carbone Meaning: coal. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 3,610.
  • Caruso From Sicilian carusu. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 1,807.
  • Castelli Patronymic or plural form of Castello. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 10,315.
Show all 328 last names (313 more)

Among Italy's 100 most common, continued

  • Cattaneo From Late Latin capitāneus (“captain”), from caput (“head”). Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 33,184.
  • Colombo Meaning: dove (abandoned child). Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 6,835.
  • Conte From the noun conte (“count”). Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 4,276.
  • Conti Meaning: Count. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 3,590.
  • Coppola Sicilian còppula (“coppola cap”), a metonymic occupational surname for a hatter. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 4,258.
  • Costa From Latin costa. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 890.
  • D'Agostino Meaning: Son of Augustin. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 4,166.
  • D'Amico Meaning: son of Amico. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 2,856.
  • D'Angelo Patronymic from the personal name Angelo. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 3,118.
  • De Angelis Variant of D'Angelo. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 4,640.
  • De Luca Meaning: son of Luke. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 2,308.
  • De Rosa Meaning: from the rose. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 4,460.
  • De Santis Meaning: of the saints. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 3,744.
  • Di Stefano From di (“of”) + Stefano. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 5,713.
  • Esposito From esposito, from Latin expositus (“exposed”). Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 1,631.
  • Fabbri Meaning: blacksmith. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 23,186.
  • Farina From farina (“flour”), perhaps a metonymic occupational surname for a dealer in flour. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 6,451.
  • Ferrara Meaning: blacksmith. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 2,752.
  • Ferrari From Ferraro, doublet of ferraio (“smith”). Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 4,311.
  • Ferraro Doublet of ferraio (“smith”). Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 2,986.
  • Ferretti Meaning: smith. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 11,418.
  • Ferri Patronymic or plural form of Ferro. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 11,045.
  • Fiore Meaning: flower. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 3,734.
  • Fontana From fontana. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 4,661.
  • Franco Meaning: Frank. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 458.
  • Galli Latin Gallus, Galli. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 10,795.
  • Gallo Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 1,610.
  • Gatti Meaning: cats. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 11,755.
  • Gentile Meaning: gentle. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 2,535.
  • Giordano Meaning: Jordan. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 2,273.
  • Giuliani Patronymic from the personal name Giuliano. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 15,558.
  • Grassi Meaning: fat. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 12,421.
  • Grasso Meaning: fat. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 4,715.
  • Greco From greco (“Greek”). Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 2,165.
  • Guerra Meaning: war. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 477.
  • Leone Meaning: lion. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 2,428.
  • Lombardi Meaning: Lombard. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 2,614.
  • Lombardo Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese surname, from the noun lombardo (“Lombard”). Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 2,436.
  • Longo Meaning: long. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 2,943.
  • Mancini From mancino (“left-handed”). Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 3,369.
  • Marchetti From a hypocoristic form of the personal name Marco. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 8,140.
  • Mariani Patronymic surname from the personal name Mariano. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 7,831.
  • Marini Meaning: seafarer. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 9,021.
  • Marino Meaning: marine, seaman. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 1,147.
  • Martinelli Meaning: Martin (diminutive). Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 6,964.
  • Martini Meaning: Martin. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 4,643.
  • Martino Meaning: Martin. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 2,800.
  • Mazza Meaning: toolmaker, smith. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 4,526.
  • Messina From Latin Messāna, from Ancient Greek Μεσσήνη (“Messene”), named by a Greek tyrant after the site of Ancient Messene in Peloponnese, Greece. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 2,886.
  • Montanari Meaning: highlander. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 32,206.
  • Monti Meaning: mountains. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 11,368.
  • Morelli Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 5,499.
  • Moretti Meaning: brown (diminutive form). Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 9,092.
  • Neri From the apheresis of several medieval personal names, such as Raineri, Guarneri or Maineri. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 4,462.
  • Orlando Meaning: Roland. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 2,939.
  • Pagano From Sicilian Paganu, a surname derived from paganu. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 4,365.
  • Palmieri Meaning: Palmer. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 5,766.
  • Palumbo Meaning: pigeon. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 3,386.
  • Parisi Earlier collateral form of the personal name Parisio, from Latin Parisius. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 4,342.
  • Pellegrini Meaning: pilgrims. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 8,237.
  • Pellegrino From pellegrino (“pilgrim”). Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 4,880.
  • Piras From the plural form of Sardinian pira (“pear”). Among Italy's 100 most common.
  • Poli Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 18,285.
  • Ricci Meaning: curly. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 3,161.
  • Rinaldi Meaning: Reynold. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 4,818.
  • Riva Topographic surname for someone who lived near a shore, from riva (“shore”). Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 19,483.
  • Rizzi Meaning: curly. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 11,380.
  • Rizzo From a variant of riccio (“curly-haired”). Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 2,001.
  • Romano Meaning: Roman. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 1,247.
  • Romeo Meaning: Roman. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 4,156.
  • Rossetti Meaning: red one. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 9,404.
  • Rossi Meaning: red (Northern and Central Italy). Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 1,387.
  • Ruggiero Meaning: Rodger. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 3,927.
  • Russo Sicilian Russu, from Sicilian russu (“redhead”). Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 740.
  • Sala Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 9,687.
  • Sanna Perhaps from Sardinian sanna (“fang, tusk”), nickname for someone with projecting teeth. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 32,900.
  • Santoro From Latin (fēstum omnium) sānctōrum (“All Saints Day, feast of all saints”). Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 4,203.
  • Serra Habitational surname, from any of numerous places called Serra. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 5,810.
  • Silvestri From the personal name Silvestro. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 7,556.
  • Sorrentino Habitational surname, from sorrentino (“inhabitant of Sorrento”). Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 6,965.
  • Testa From testa (“head”), hence a nickname for an exceptionally clever person or for a person with a remarkably large head. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 4,543.
  • Valente Meaning: valiant, bold. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 4,752.
  • Valentini Meaning: valiant, bold. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 25,020.
  • Villa Meaning: dwelling. Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 653.
  • Vitale Meaning: Vitale (given name). Among Italy's 100 most common. US census rank 2,810.

More Italian last names 228

  • Abbate Variant of Abate, from abate (“abbot”). US census rank 11,641.
  • Accardi Patronymic or plural form of Accardo. US census rank 18,111.
  • Agostini From the personal name Agostino. US census rank 16,886.
  • Albanese From albanese (“Albanian”). US census rank 5,594.
  • Alberti From the personal name Alberto. US census rank 12,008.
  • Alfieri From alfiere (“standard-bearer”) or the masculine given name Alfiero. US census rank 13,259.
  • Altieri Cognate with Neapolitan Autiero and Sicilian Auteri. US census rank 10,256.
  • Anastasio Latin Anastasius, from Ancient Greek Ἀναστάσιος. US census rank 16,634.
  • Angelini Literally “son of Angelino”, from Angelino, equivalent to the diminutive of Angelo or Angeli. US census rank 17,175.
  • Angelo Latin Angelus. US census rank 4,646.
  • Asaro Unadapted borrowing from Sicilian Àsaru (“Assoro”). US census rank 15,568.
  • Balla Originally a nickname meaning "rascal," from balosso. US census rank 15,307.
  • Baratta Occupational surname for a market trader, from the verb barattare (“to barter”). US census rank 16,419.
  • Blasi Late Latin Blasi(us), name of a 3rd-4th century Armenian saint, possibly Latinized from an Ancient Greek name. US census rank 16,759.
  • Bommarito A nickname, from buon (“good”) + marito (“husband”). US census rank 15,331.
  • Bonfiglio From bono (“good”) + figlio (“child, son”). US census rank 16,930.
  • Bongiovanni From buon (“good”) + Giovanni (“John”). US census rank 17,928.
  • Buffa From Sicilian buffa (“toad”), a nickname. US census rank 19,077.
  • Caggiano Praedial toponym, from Latin Cāius + -ānus. US census rank 13,367.
  • Calcagno From calcagno (“heel”). US census rank 17,138.
  • Cammarata Sicilian Cammarata, from Byzantine Greek καμάρα (“span”) + -ata. US census rank 13,289.
  • Cannella From cannella (“cinnamon”), a metonymic occupational surname for a spice merchant. US census rank 15,248.
  • Cannizzaro Italianized form of Sicilian Cannizzaru, from Sicilian cannizzaru (“related to somewhere or someone related to reeds or wattle”), from cannizzu (“wattle”), from canna. US census rank 15,307.
  • Capasso Perhaps an Italianized form of Spanish capaz (“able, capable”). US census rank 15,448.
  • Capobianco From capo + bianco. US census rank 10,231.
  • Capozzi From a derivative of capo (“head”). US census rank 13,379.
  • Cardillo Traditionally derived from Sicilian cardillu (“goldfinch”). US census rank 11,213.
  • Cardinale From cardinale (“cardinal”). US census rank 10,368.
  • Castello From the noun castello (“castle”). US census rank 9,830.
  • Catalano Italianized after Sicilian Catalanu, a surname derived from Sicilian catalanu (“related to Catalonia”). US census rank 3,909.
  • Catanese Habitational surname, from catanese (“of or from Catania”). US census rank 17,916.
  • Cavallaro Italianized after Sicilian Cavaḍḍaru. US census rank 9,657.
  • Cecere From an unattested Vulgar Latin *cicerem, accusative masculine of Latin cicer. US census rank 17,160.
  • Celentano Adapted borrowing from Sicilian Cilintanu (“inhabitant of Cilento”). US census rank 17,017.
  • Ciccone From an augmentative form of the rare personal name Cicco. US census rank 8,670.
  • Cipriano Latin Cyprianus. US census rank 7,474.
  • Clemente From Latin Clēmentem. US census rank 3,647.
  • Collura Italianization of the Sicilian surname Cuḍḍura, from cuḍḍura (“ring-shaped bread”), from Ancient Greek κολλύρα (“loaf”). US census rank 18,405.
  • Coniglio From coniglio (“rabbit”), either a nickname for a timid person, or an occupational surname for a dealer in rabbits. US census rank 15,103.
  • Corrao Adapted borrowing from Sicilian Currau (“Conrad”). US census rank 16,419.
  • Corso From a short form of Accorso or Bonaccorso. US census rank 7,130.
  • Cosenza From Latin Cōnsentia, Cosentia, from consentia. US census rank 16,775.
  • Crisafulli Italianized form of a Byzantine Greek personal name. US census rank 19,026.
  • Culotta From a diminutive form of Cola, itself a reduced form of the personal name Nicola. US census rank 19,517.
  • Cuneo From Latin cuneus (“wedge”) (whence cuneo and conio), after the shape of the city, which is at the confluence of two rivers. US census rank 13,320.
  • D'Addario By surface analysis, d' + Addario. US census rank 18,311.
  • D'Alessandro From the personal name Alessandro. US census rank 6,095.
  • D'Alessio From di (“of”) + the personal name Alessio. US census rank 11,682.
  • D'Amato From the personal name Amato. US census rank 5,429.
  • D'Ambrosio From the personal name Ambrosio. US census rank 7,721.
  • D'Andrea From the personal name Andrea (“Andrew”). US census rank 6,320.
  • D'Elia From the personal name Elia. US census rank 7,151.
  • D'Errico From a variant of the personal name Enrico. US census rank 14,205.
  • D'Orazio From di (“of”) + Orazio (“Horace”). US census rank 12,867.
  • Damiani From the personal name Damiano. US census rank 14,854.
  • De Fazio De + Fazio. US census rank 10,936.
  • De Felice De + Felice. US census rank 9,086.
  • De Lorenzo De + Lorenzo. US census rank 8,972.
  • De Lucia From de + Lucia. US census rank 9,225.
  • De Pasquale De + Pasquale. US census rank 9,857.
  • De Simone De + Simone. US census rank 4,419.
  • De Stefano De + Stefano. US census rank 5,080.
  • De Vito De + Vito. US census rank 4,821.
  • Del Vecchio From del (“of the”) + vecchio (“old; old man”), a nickname for someone whose father was relatively old or old-looking. US census rank 7,342.
  • Di Carlo Di + Carlo. US census rank 8,105.
  • Di Cesare From di (“of”) + Cesare. US census rank 19,206.
  • Di Donato Di + Donato. US census rank 9,618.
  • Di Filippo From di (“of”) + the personal name Filippo. US census rank 16,694.
  • Di Fiore From di (“of”) + the personal name Fiore. US census rank 17,902.
  • Di Franco From di (“of”) + the personal name Franco. US census rank 15,346.
  • Di Giorgio From di (“of”) + Giorgio (“George”). US census rank 19,051.
  • Di Gregorio From the personal name Gregorio. US census rank 11,967.
  • Di Lorenzo Di + Lorenzo. US census rank 9,817.
  • Di Marco Di + Marco. US census rank 8,043.
  • Di Martino Di + Martino. US census rank 10,647.
  • Di Matteo From di (“of”) + the personal name Matteo (“Matthew”). US census rank 13,005.
  • Di Napoli Habitational surname for a person coming from Napoli (“Naples”). US census rank 15,680.
  • Di Natale From di (“of”) + Natale (“a personal name”). US census rank 19,495.
  • Di Paola From di (“of”) + the personal name Paola. US census rank 16,205.
  • Di Paolo Di + Paolo. US census rank 11,656.
  • Di Pasquale Di + Pasquale. US census rank 10,518.
  • Di Pietro From di + Pietro. US census rank 6,207.
  • Di Salvo From di (“of”) + Salvo (“a male given name”). US census rank 10,288.
  • Di Santo From di (“of”) + the personal name Santo. US census rank 13,088.
  • Donato Early saint's name from Latin Donātus, meaning "given" (as by God). US census rank 4,771.
  • Drago A nickname, from drago (“dragon”). US census rank 10,631.
  • Fabrizio Latin Fabricius. US census rank 11,176.
  • Failla Borrowed from the Sicilian surname Faviḍḍa/Faiḍḍa, a surname derived from faviḍḍa (“spark”), ultimately from Latin favilla. US census rank 17,966.
  • Falco From falco (“hawk”), a nickname for a swift or keen-eyed person. US census rank 7,473.
  • Farris From Sardinian farris (“barley flour”). US census rank 1,232.
  • Fasano Probably a praedial toponym, perhaps from Latin Fadius (“a personal name”) + -ānus. US census rank 10,727.
  • Fazio From a shortened form of the personal name Bonifacio. US census rank 4,941.
  • Fedele From fedele (“faithful”). US census rank 15,502.
  • Federico Medieval Latin Friderīcus. US census rank 6,063.
  • Ferro From the noun ferro (“iron”). US census rank 5,082.
  • Festa Probably from the noun festa, but also seen in Medieval compounds such as Cattafesta, Carafesta. US census rank 12,638.
  • Filippone Possibly cognate with French Philippon. US census rank 19,658.
  • Fiorentino From fiorentino (“Florentine”). US census rank 11,570.
  • Formica From formica (“ant”), probably used as a nickname. US census rank 19,684.
  • Fortunato Latin Fortūnātus. US census rank 8,419.
  • Galante Originally a nickname for a chivalrous person, from galante (“courteous, gallant”). US census rank 9,191.
  • Gallina From gallina (“hen”), perhaps a metonymic occupational surname for someone who had a henhouse. US census rank 16,671.
  • Gallucci Hypocoristic form of Gallo. US census rank 13,234.
  • Gambino From gamba (“leg”) + ino, a nickname for someone with small legs. US census rank 6,798.
  • Garofalo From Italian garofalo, garofolo, a regional variant of garofano (“carnation, clove pink”). US census rank 6,934.
  • Gatto From gatto. US census rank 8,038.
  • Gaudio Nickname for a cheerful person, from gaudio (“joy, happiness”). US census rank 17,379.
  • Genovese Habitational surname from genovese (“Genoese”). US census rank 7,028.
  • Gerace From Latin Hierāx//Ierāx, itself from Ancient Greek Ῐ̔έρᾱξ, the ancient name of the town. US census rank 13,728.
  • Geraci From Latin Hierāx//Ierāx, from Ancient Greek Ῐ̔έρᾱξ, the ancient name of the town. US census rank 9,006.
  • Giannini From a hypocoristic form of the personal name Giovanni (“John”). US census rank 9,744.
  • Giardina From the Italianization of the Sicilian Jardina, from the plural of jardinu (“garden, vegetable garden”). US census rank 10,842.
  • Giglio From Latin Igilium, from Ancient Greek Αἰγύλιον. US census rank 7,619.
  • Giusti From the personal name Giusto. US census rank 16,947.
  • Glorioso From glorioso (“glorious”). US census rank 17,781.
  • Granata From granata (“pomegranate”), hence a metonymic occupational surname for a grower or seller of this fruit, or a nickname for someone with red hair or red complexion. US census rank 15,929.
  • Grande From grande (“big”), a nickname for a tall or large person. US census rank 4,653.
  • Gregorio Via Latin Grēgorius, from post-classical Ancient Greek Γρηγόριος (“watchful, vigilant”). US census rank 6,202.
  • Guerriero Occupational surname from guerriero (“warrior”). US census rank 14,233.
  • Gullo From the Sicilian surname Guḍḍu. US census rank 14,253.
  • Iacono From Sicilian jacunu (“deacon”). US census rank 14,145.
  • Iannone From Ianni + -one from Latin Iōhannēs, Iōannēs, from Ancient Greek Ἰωάννης, from Hebrew יוחנן (Yôḥānān) (“Yahweh is gracious”). US census rank 18,133.
  • Iorio A dialectal form of Giorgio. US census rank 13,630.
  • Ippolito From Latin Hippolytus, from Ancient Greek Ἰππόλυτος. US census rank 8,150.
  • La Guardia Sicilian La Guardia. US census rank 19,184.
  • Lamberti From the personal name Lamberto. US census rank 17,328.
  • Lamon Probably related to the word lama (“bog, fen”). US census rank 16,249.
  • Landi From the personal name Lando. US census rank 14,358.
  • Lanza From Latin Lancia, from lancea (“spear, lance”). US census rank 6,040.
  • Larocca From la (“the”) + rocca (“fortress, rock”). US census rank 7,532.
  • Leonardi From the given name Leonardo (“Leonard”). US census rank 12,005.
  • Liguori Patronymic/plural form of a southern variant of the personal name Ligorio. US census rank 14,129.
  • Luce Probably a patronymic surname from a variant of Luca, or a matronymic surname from a variant of Lucia. US census rank 3,777.
  • Luciani Patronymic surname from the personal name Luciano. US census rank 18,539.
  • Lupo From the noun lupo (“wolf”). US census rank 6,476.
  • Macaluso Sicilian surname from Arabic مخلوص (maḵlūṣ) (“freed, liberated”). US census rank 7,458.
  • Mancuso From Arabic مَنْحُوس (“unlucky, unfortunate”). US census rank 3,796.
  • Marchese From marchese (“marquis”). US census rank 5,521.
  • Marra Perhaps from marra (“hoe”), a metonymic occupational surname for a farmer. US census rank 6,334.
  • Massa The surname is from several places such as Massa Lubrense, all from Latin massa (“lump, pile”). US census rank 6,187.
  • Mazzei From the personal name Mazzeo. US census rank 15,281.
  • Miceli Southern Italian variant of Micheli. US census rank 7,094.
  • Migliaccio From migliaccio. US census rank 18,405.
  • Milone Italianization of Sicilian Miluni (and its plural Miluna and other dialectal/hypercorrected variants), from Sicilian miluni (“melon, watermelon”). US census rank 17,729.
  • Mollica From mollica (“crumb; soft part of the bread”), perhaps a nickname for a small or soft-hearted person. US census rank 17,273.
  • Montalto From monte (“mountain”) + alto (“high”). US census rank 19,974.
  • Monte From monte. US census rank 7,630.
  • Napoli From Latin Neāpolis, from Ancient Greek Νεᾱ́πολῐς, from νέᾱ (“new”) + πόλῐς (“city”). US census rank 6,705.
  • Napolitano A habitational surname from Neapolitan napulitano (“Neapolitan”). US census rank 5,127.
  • Nardi From the personal name Nardo. US census rank 11,100.
  • Nicastro From Medieval Latin Neocastrum (“new camp”), from Byzantine Greek Νεόκαστρον (“new castle”), a compound of νέος (“new”) + κάστρον (“fort, castle”). US census rank 14,620.
  • Nicolai From the personal name Nicolao, variant of Nicola. US census rank 15,076.
  • Nicolosi Sicilian Niculosi. US census rank 14,592.
  • Nigro Italianization of the surname Nìguru, from Sicilian nìguru (“black”). US census rank 7,355.
  • Notaro Occupational surname, from Latin notārius (“notary”). US census rank 18,191.
  • Olivieri From the personal name Oliviero. US census rank 9,582.
  • Onorato From Late Latin Honorātus. US census rank 16,023.
  • Orsini Diminutive of Orsi. US census rank 10,391.
  • Palazzo From palazzo (“palace”), from Latin palātium (“palace, large residence”), from Palātium (“Palatine”), one of the seven hills of Rome. US census rank 10,423.
  • Palazzolo From Late Latin Palatiolum, from palatium (“a palace; large residence”) + -olum. US census rank 9,585.
  • Paolini From a hypocoristic form of the personal name Paolo (“Paul”). US census rank 17,226.
  • Paolucci Patronymic surname from a diminutive of the personal name Paolo (“Paul”). US census rank 16,390.
  • Paone Variant of Pavone. US census rank 15,502.
  • Pappalardo From pappalardo (“glutton”). US census rank 16,259.
  • Parente From a medieval personal name which originated as a shortened form of Bomparente (“good parent, good relative”). US census rank 10,275.
  • Pastore From pastore (“shepherd”). US census rank 8,438.
  • Pavone Italianized from Sicilian Pavuni, a surname derived from pavuni. US census rank 14,109.
  • Pecoraro Occupational surname, from pecoraro (“shepherd”). US census rank 9,863.
  • Perrone Augmented form of the forename Perro which is a variant of Piero. US census rank 5,859.
  • Petrella From any of the various places in Italy called Petrella. US census rank 14,345.
  • Piccirillo From Neapolitan piccerillo (“small, little”). US census rank 17,438.
  • Piscitelli Diminutive of pesce (“fish”) + -itelli (“diminutive suffix”) (plural of -itello), from Latin piscis (“fish”) + -ittus + -ellus. US census rank 15,443.
  • Pizzi Patronymic form of Pizzo. US census rank 18,832.
  • Procopio Latin Procopius, from Ancient Greek Προκόπιος. US census rank 14,261.
  • Pugliese From pugliese (“Apulian”). US census rank 6,728.
  • Puglisi Sicilian (“Apulian”), an ethnic surname for someone from Apulia. US census rank 12,170.
  • Quinto From Latin Quīntus, from Latin quīntus (“fifth”). US census rank 11,647.
  • Raimondi Patronymic surname from the personal name Raimondo. US census rank 14,510.
  • Reale From reale (“royal”). US census rank 11,591.
  • Renda From a derivative of Latin Laurentius (compare Lawrence). US census rank 15,502.
  • Renzi Originally a plural of Renzo, a diminutive of the male given name Lorenzo (“Lawrence”). US census rank 15,115.
  • Riccardi From the personal name Riccardo (“Richard”). US census rank 11,534.
  • Riccio A surname given to someone with curly hair, from riccio (“curly”). US census rank 8,317.
  • Riggio Variant of Reggio, a habitational surname. US census rank 16,124.
  • Rizzuto Sicilian Rizzutu, from Sicilian rizzutu (“curly-haired”), from rizzu (“curl, lock”) + -utu (“-ed”). US census rank 14,067.
  • Rocca Rocca (“fortress”). US census rank 15,581.
  • Rosati Patronymic or plural form of Rosato. US census rank 11,119.
  • Rosato From rosato (“rosy, pinkish”), probably a nickname for someone with a pinkish complexion. US census rank 13,282.
  • Rubino From rubino (“ruby”), a nickname for a dear or precious person. US census rank 5,228.
  • Ruggeri From the given name Ruggero (cognate with English Roger). US census rank 16,290.
  • Salemi Borrowed from Sicilian Salemi, probably from Arabic سَلَام (“peace”). US census rank 19,730.
  • Salvato From salvato (“saved”). US census rank 15,833.
  • Schiavo Ethnic surname, from schiavo (“Slav”). US census rank 17,418.
  • Sciacca Sicilian Sciacca. US census rank 19,411.
  • Serafini From the male given name Serafino. US census rank 17,371.
  • Simone Latin Simon, from Ancient Greek Σῐ́μων, from Biblical Hebrew שִׁמְעוֹן (Šimʿōn). US census rank 4,996.
  • Simonelli Patronymic surname from a hypocoristic form of the personal name Simone. US census rank 16,566.
  • Somma Habitational surname, from the town of Somma Vesuviana. US census rank 19,136.
  • Sorge From the Italianization of the Sicilian surname Surgi, derived from surgi (“mouse”), dialectal variant of surci. US census rank 17,588.
  • Sottile From sottile (“lean, thin; delicate”), used as a nickname. US census rank 19,670.
  • Spada From spada (“sword”), either a metonymic occupational surname for a sword-maker or a nickname for someone who used to always carry a sword. US census rank 16,019.
  • Spadaro Italianized and sonorized variant of Sicilian Spataru, from Sicilian spataru (“sword-maker”). US census rank 17,042.
  • Spataro Italianized variant of Sicilian Spataru, from Sicilian spataru (“sword-maker”). US census rank 19,077.
  • Stefani From the personal name Stefano. US census rank 16,752.
  • Summa Southern variant of Somma. US census rank 18,143.
  • Talarico Patronymic surname from the apheresis of Atalarico, a male given name. US census rank 12,182.
  • Tarantino Habitational surname for someone from Taranto, from tarantino (“of or from Taranto”). US census rank 8,338.
  • Tartaglia From tartaglia, inflection of tartagliare. US census rank 13,940.
  • Tassone From the surname Tasso + one. US census rank 18,237.
  • Tedeschi From tedesco (“German”). US census rank 13,259.
  • Tedesco Ethnic surname, from tedesco (“German”). US census rank 5,829.
  • Terranova From terra (“land”) + nova (“new”). US census rank 9,618.
  • Todaro From a variant of the personal name Teodoro. US census rank 11,628.
  • Torre Latin Turris. US census rank 8,298.
  • Traina Habitational surname Italianized after Sicilian Trajina, the Sicilian endonym of the homonymous town. US census rank 16,600.
  • Trapani Ultimately from Latin Drepanum, Drepanon, Ancient Greek Δρέπανον (“sickle”), a reference to the curving shape of its harbor. US census rank 12,124.
  • Triolo Sicilian trìvulu (“obstacle, pain, suffering, tribulation”). US census rank 18,763.
  • Troiano From Latin Troiānus (“Trojan”). US census rank 13,069.
  • Trombetta From trombetta (“toy trumpet”), probably a metonymic occupational surname for a trumpeteer. US census rank 18,934.
  • Trovato From trovato (“found”), a nickname given to foundlings. US census rank 17,094.
  • Turco Ethnic surname, from turco (“Turkish”). US census rank 13,735.
  • Vaccaro A surname taken from Sicilian vaccaru (“cowherd”). US census rank 5,426.
  • Valenti Patronymic surname from the personal name Valente. US census rank 4,448.
  • Vallone From Valle + -one. US census rank 15,631.
  • Vassallo From vassallo (“vassal”). US census rank 10,209.
  • Veltri Patronymic or plural form of Veltro. US census rank 16,520.
  • Viola The given name derived from Latin viola (“a violet”). US census rank 5,392.
  • Zito A nickname, from zito (“bachelor, unmarried boy”). US census rank 6,438.

How this list was compiled: A list by a written rule, built on 2 October 2026. A surname is listed when it has an Italian surname entry in English Wiktionary's category 'Italian surnames' (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Category:Italian_surnames, 11,721 entries listed that day) and either stands among the 100 most common surnames of Italy in English Wikipedia's 'List of most common surnames in European countries' (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most_common_surnames_in_European_countries#Italy) or is in the top 20,000 of the US Census Bureau's 2020 file of last names (https://www2.census.gov/topics/genealogy/2020surnames/Names2020_LastNames_RaceHispanic.xlsx) and its Italian entry gives an etymology whose first sentence could be read plainly. Left out: entries whose etymology opens with another language's surname (German, Spanish, Arabic, Dutch); names outside Italy's 100 that the census file counts as more than half Hispanic or more than half Asian in the United States (Santos, Luna, Miranda, Rana), where the US rank would describe another language's name; names whose entry says only that the origin is uncertain, or only that the name is a variant of a name this list does not hold; and two names whose sentence carries a word this site does not print. A name that another list of this site already holds is kept only while such names stay near a third of this list, Italy's 100 first and then by US rank. The card's sentence is the opening of the Italian entry's etymology, sometimes shortened; for a name of Italy's 100 whose Italian entry gives none, the card gives the meaning printed in that Wikipedia table after the word 'Meaning'; four cards (Gallo, Morelli, Poli, Sala) give none. An origin is what a dictionary records for the surname in general, not for any one family. 'Among Italy's 100 most common' is a band, not a place. The US rank is the spelling's place among all last names in the 2020 Census of the United States; it counts everyone with that spelling, whatever the family's origin (the census file counts most US bearers of Franco, Guerra and Villa as Hispanic), and seven names of Italy's 100 stand below rank 20,000 or are not in the file. The ending is the last letter of the name and nothing more. Licence: Origins: English Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0; the list of Italy's most common surnames: English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). The census file is a work of the US federal government and in the public domain (17 U.S.C. 105). The selection is our own work.