Italian surnames – loud and beautiful

Italy is a beautiful country with an incredible cultural heritage and cheerful, cheerful people.

Many Italian surnames reflect this cheerfulness. Some surnames that seem offensive to us are perceived by Italians with humor (and not as a punishment on their own head).

The Italian just laughs: “Well, yes, my name is Montemagno (I’ll devour a mountain), well, it’s funny!”

Surnames began to be used in Ancient Rome during its heyday. Then a person’s name consisted of three parts:

Given name.
Dynasty name.
Surname.

IN early Middle Ages Italians again began to be called only by their first names, for example, Paolo or Bianca.

With flourishing Venetian Republic again an additional name spread. There were a lot of people and, in order to distinguish them, the tradition was revived again. IN Everyday life the person was always called by name. That is, they didn’t shout: “Ivanov, come here.” They shouted: “Paolo! Come here!"

But when drawing up documents, in addition to the name, a second additional name was already used. Among the upper class of society, this was usually the name of a dynasty. U ordinary people- on behalf of the father. For example, Giuseppe di Nicolo (i.e. Giuseppe, son of Nicolo).

Sometimes children were named after their place of birth. That is, according to the location of the city or locality where the child was born. For example, everyone famous Leonardo da Vinci means « Leonardo from Vinci » (Vinci is a city in Tuscany, Italy). From the twelfth to the sixteenth centuries, the formation of surnames took place. In 1564, the city council of Trento passed a law stating that every newborn child should be assigned not only a first name, but also a surname.

The most common surname (or cognome) of Italians is derivative from father's name. For example, Andrea di Giovanni. Andrea is a personal name, the preposition “di” is a connective (analogous to the Russian prepositions “iz” or “from”), Giovanni is the name of the father. Sometimes they were formed from the double names of father and grandfather. Let's say Kolayani (Nicola and Giovanni).
By profession. In Italy, from ancient times to this day, small businesses have been owned by families. And such a mini-business passes from grandfather to father, from father to son (or daughter). Today, the owners of most small restaurants are the family that inherited the business. And what’s surprising is that usually sons and daughters become imbued with the work of their ancestors, devoting their entire lives to it, and then raise their children in the same spirit. Therefore, surnames were often given according to the person’s profession. For example, Giuseppe Molino (mill), Francesco Contadino (peasant) and so on. Most often, such “professional” cognome were relevant for ordinary people: artisans and peasants.
From a person's habits, as well as his nicknames. Gentile (polite, sweet), Papagallo (parrot).
From the area where the person was born or lived. Mario Torino or Alessio Romano.

For orphans, surnames associated with the church and faith were sometimes used. For example, Pietro di Dio (Pietro from God), Silvio del Amore (Silvio from Love) and the like.

List of popular surnames

In Italy there is no concept of women's and male surnames. They have same shape for both women and men.

The most popular:

Rossi are red. We're talking about skin tone. However, other options are also possible.
Biancas are white. This refers to the same factor as in the previous case.
Marino - sea. Probably associated with professions related to the sea. Such as a fisherman, a sailor.
Esposito - found. This was often the name given to abandoned children.
Romano - Roman. Indicates Roman or Gypsy origin.
Columbo is a pigeon.
Bruno is dark.
Verdi - green.

Most surnames have similar roots; they differ in suffixes and prefixes. It happens that they end with diminutive suffixes. Such as “-ino”, “-illo”, “-etto”. The suffix "-accio" means "big".

Curious Italian surnames:

Galli are roosters.
Vagnucci - smelly.
Mezzanotte - midnight.
Durante - at this time.
Benvenuti - welcome.
Bonvisuto lived well.
Inocenti - innocent.
Santoro is holy gold.
Gattoni is a huge cat.
Cinquemani - five-armed.
Rottagentie - polite.
Leopazza - lion's paw.
Tornabene - well come back.
Pelegatta - cat's paw.
Macarona probably doesn’t need translation.

Some Italians decided to be original by taking surnames famous people: Lewinsky, Bush, Putin.

Male and female names

Since the sixteenth century, children in Italy have been named after their ancestors. But children, as a rule, are not named after their father. According to tradition, the first son is named after the paternal grandfather, the second - after the maternal grandfather. Previously, names were often assigned depending on how the child was born. For example, the fourth son could be named Quarto.

Popular male names:

Adriano is rich.
Andrea is a warrior, a man.
Antonio is a flower.
Vittorio is the winner.
Giacomo is a destroyer.
Dario is very rich.
Gino is immortal.
Giuseppe - may God multiply.
Italo is Italian.
Christiano - one who follows Christ.
Luciano is easy.
Marco is militant.
Mario is courageous.
Nikola - the people won.
Paolo is small.
Ricardo is strong.
Fabio is seductive.
Fernando is a defender of peace.
Franco is free.
Francesco is originally from France, French.
Emmanuelle - God is with us.

Sometimes female names differ from male ones only in the ending “a”. The root is often the same. For example, the popular name Francesco. If the girl is Francesca. Or Mario and Maria, Angelo and Angela. Girls, especially in the old days, like boys, were named by number. The fifth was called Quinta, the eighth - Ottorina. This was fertility!

We owe the very existence of the surname to the ancient Greeks and Romans, but the surname became mandatory only inXVII century in Italy. And since then, the unbridled Italian imagination could no longer be contained: after curious Italian names like “Eighth”, “Wild” or “Impeccable”, the inhabitants of the Apennines can boast of surnames to match them!

But first small excursion into history. In ancient Rome, the surname was initially used to distinguish two people with same name. The surname could echo the person’s name, indicate the area where he came from, or remind him of characteristic features his appearance, including defects. Thus, Marco Tullio Cicero was called Cicero because he had a wart on his nose, Ovid was called “Nosyara”, and Plato’s surname could be interpreted as “Flat Legs” or “Long Ears”.

IN modern Italy only 15 percent of surnames indicate some physical characteristics of its owner; approximately 35 percent are a reference to the name of the father or founder of the clan, another 35 percent are reminiscent of the name hometown, village or locality, 10 percent are somehow connected with a profession, craft, position or title, 3 percent are of foreign origin, and the remaining 2 percent are the wish surname given to the foundlings.

Two of the most common surnames in Italy are Rossi and Bianchi, "Red" and "White". Even in Italian language textbooks, these two gentlemen appear in the first texts and dialogues. Rossi and numerous variants of this surname (Rosso, Rossa, Russi, de Rossi, De Russi, Ruggiu, and even Russian!) are nothing more than a reference to the red-haired ancestor of the family. Bianchi and variants of this surname, of course, indicate a blond or simply fair-haired and fair-skinned person. And the inhabitants of the Apennines with the surnames Nero or Negro (and derivatives Negri, Negrini , Negroni) ancestors were probably very dark and black-haired.

But in such famous and high-profile ones in Russia Italian surnames Ferrari and Ferrè are hidden in nothing other than the profession of a blacksmith! By the way, the ancestors of the first Italians with the surname Magnani were also blacksmiths, because in the Milanese dialect magnan is just a “smith” or “tinker”.

Another common surname in Bel Paese, especially in the south of the country, Esposito has its roots in the word “esposto”, that is, “abandoned”, “abandoned”. It is not difficult to guess that this surname was given to foundlings, babies left at the doors of churches or on the threshold of houses. A similar surname Degli Esposti was borne by those children who were brought up in orphanages and shelters, in Italian “houses of the abandoned,” that is, degli esposti.

But Casadei and Incerti, in some ways synonymous with the above-mentioned Esposito, are more common in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna. They interpret the theme of orphanhood differently: here Casadei means “house of God” (casa di dio), and Incerti is translated as “unknown father”, from the medieval Latin incertis patris. In Lazio, the region whose capital is Rome, the surname Proietto or Proietti, derived from the Italianized term proiectus, is very common, which was also given to foundlings. In southern Sicily and northern Piedmont, abandoned babies were given a surname like Ignoto, D"Ignoti, D"Ignoto, which in Italian means "child of the unknown", and the surname Innocenti (very common in the northern regions of Italy, especially in Tuscany and Lombardy) or alternatively Innocente) means "innocent". And the surname Trovato, “found”, typical of Sicily and Lombardy, leaves no doubt about its origin.

Do you also have the impression that almost all Italian surnames were given to children abandoned by their parents? But let's not talk about sad things, there are very funny surnames in Italy!

Here, for example, Portafoglio (“wallet”), Sanguedolce (“ sweet blood"), Quattrocchi ("four eyes"), Diecidue ("ten two"), Spione ("spy"), Spazzolini ("brushes"), Basta ("that's enough") or Gratis ("for free"). and surnames-geographical names that don’t even need translation: Berlin, London, Madrid, Australia, Francia, Russia.

One of the most famous Italians in Russia - the architect Aristotle Fioravanti, who built the Assumption Cathedral, a brick factory and the Cannon Yard in Moscow. Perhaps the name Fryanovo is associated with it. And, accordingly, the surname is Fryanov.

Another famous Italian architect was Pietro Antonio Solari. From 1490 to 1493, he supervised the construction of walls, towers and other buildings of the Kremlin. The surname Solari in Russia was transformed into Solarev.

The surname Chicherin is also well known in Russia. Revolutionary Georgy Chicherin served as Soviet People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs from 1918 to 1923. The founder of the noble family of the Chicherins was the interpreter (translator) Afanasy Chicherini, who arrived in Rus' in the retinue of the Byzantine princess and future Grand Duchess Sophia Paleologus. Chicherini, by the way, is one of the ancestors of A.S. Pushkin. And “the cunning Fryazhian husband Zakhar Tutchev” is related to the genealogy of another Russian poet, Fyodor Tyutchev.

The Italian surname Rossi is also associated with Russia. The largest architect of the Russian Empire style, Carlo Rossi (1775-1849), the son of an Italian ballerina, was born in St. Petersburg, although architectural art studied in Italy. He is the author of many projects, including three main squares of St. Petersburg - Palace, Admiralteyskaya and Senate. However, the surname Rossi is still Italian and, by the way, means “Red”.

The surname Pikuza appeared in Russia after Patriotic War 1812. In fact, this is a Russified version of the Picuso surname. It was worn by Italian gypsies, whose descendants now live in the south of Russia, in particular in the Krasnodar region.

Italian names are characterized by a peculiar manner, emotions that are filled with special charm, luxury and originality. You can learn all the most interesting things about Italian names from this article.

08/30/2016 / 14:27 | Varvara Pokrovskaya

Italy, like its inhabitants, is known to the world for its thirst for beauty. The state has its own, unique cultural heritage, whose traditions are strictly observed by many Italians. Among cultural rules proper names are highlighted.

Features of Italian names

Italian nicknames go back to history Ancient Rome. At the first stage of the emergence of nicknames, they were names given to people for certain external features, character, professional qualities. Before today parents give preference ancient names, which was popular several centuries ago. Nicknames with Roman roots include the following: Cesare, Pietro, Luciano. Depending on the settlement the sound of words may have significant differences. For example, in the northern regions, instead of the standard “G”, “Z” is pronounced. Also, the nicknames of Italians contain elements taken from German tribes, which over time began to be used as surnames.

Family traditions

Italians have a number of traditions. One of them is to give female babies the nicknames of the older women in the family. Moreover, this did not depend on whether the relative was alive or not. Eldest daughter in the family the name of the grandmother was given, the second child - the mother, the next child - the aunts and great-aunts. In some areas of Italy, girls are still given the names of recently departed women of the family. This is how Italians stick to traditions, they show good attitude to the family.

Baptismal names

Italians adhere to the Catholic faith, and the baptism procedure has great value. Catholic Church advises giving a Christian nickname to the baby. That is, the one that is in the calendar. If a young family wishes to name the child a name that is not in the Catholic calendar, then the name of a saint can be added to it, for example, Giada Macdalena, Aida Maria. Unlike the laws in force in the country, church rules allow you to give your child any number of names - each of them will be indicated in the certificate that is issued after baptism. However, a maximum of 3 names are allowed on a birth document. In this regard, a common situation is when in the family circle a person is called not by the nickname indicated in the passport, but by the name given at baptism.

How to name a child

About four centuries ago in Italy there was a interesting tradition naming children. The first-born male was given the nickname of the male grandfather. When a representative of the weaker half was born first in the family, she was named after her paternal grandmother. The second children were given nicknames of the older generation according to their mother's family. The following children were honored to bear the nicknames of their parents.

Many names in Italy that girls are called today are derived from the names of saints. Words may be original or altered. Some nicknames arose during the period of the Norman conquest of Italy, others - by changing the names of men, others came from the titles of royalty, for example, Marquis, Regina, etc.
Some nicknames are given due to features of appearance, character and other qualities: Bianca (light), Allegra (cheerful), Elettra (brilliant).

Nicknames borrowed from other nations are also popular in Italy. This is easy to explain big amount emigrants, the fame of heroes of world literature, music, films, politicians, representatives of show business.

Male Italian names

The demand for male nicknames depends on many factors:

The area where the baby was born;
Family Fantasies;
Fashion trends.

Fashion has a great influence on men's names. For example, many parents give their children nicknames of athletes, movie stars; in other areas, children are named after saints.

The state has an institute of statistics, created at the beginning of the 20th century. One of the main tasks of the institution is to collect information about baby names. According to the collected data, the most popular names for men include: Francesco, Alessandro, Andrea Matteo, Lorenzo Gabriel, Mattia, Ricardo, David, Luca, Leonardo Federico, Marco, Giuseppe, Tommaso, Antonio Giovanni Alessio, Filippo, Diego, Daniel, Peter , Eduardo, Emmanuel Michel.

Often parents have an enviable imagination, trying to give their baby an original, rarely encountered nickname. But a young man with that name does not always easily pass the tests given by life. Fortunately, the family's desire to give the baby unusual name the authorities may refuse if they decide that this nickname can play a cruel joke on a person. Therefore, inventive mothers and fathers should think carefully before giving their child this or that name.

Italian names and surnames

Surnames first emerged in Venice at the turn of the 10th century. The first documented case was recorded with the mention of the surname Orseolo. Its founders were the brothers Dominicus and Petrus. The descendants of these people are also called. This shining example a surname that is passed down every generation.

But there were differences between layers of society. Only families from the upper strata of society had the right to have permanent surnames. A person without privileges was only a bearer of a nickname. If identification was required, the phrases “daughter of so-and-so,” “of such-and-such a family,” or “from the city” were added to the name. A similar situation was observed until the 16th century. By the way, most of famous people At that time, for example, artists did not have surnames.

Italian names for little representatives of the fairer sex are varied. Girls are named after relatives, saints and given fashionable nicknames. Among all, it is worth paying attention to names that end in vowels - they have a certain meaning.

If you are looking for original name If you want to avoid a boring and overly popular nickname, pay attention to:

Alba - dawn;
Arabella - prayer;
Gabriela - divine, strong;
Bonfiliya - kind daughter;
Giuditta - praised;
Leah - dependent;
Allegra - happiness;
Domitilla - responsible.

Italian boy names

Names for Italian citizens, according to tradition, are given according to the nicknames of their paternal ancestors. Conducted research in this area shows that mothers and fathers today prefer fashionable, beautiful names. Many nicknames for the stronger sex are of Roman origin. The oldest can be found in myths.

Popular Italian names for boys include:

Valentino - strong, bursting with health;
Valerio - strong;
Wenceslas - famous;
Dorien - originally from the Doric tribe;
Drago - dragon;
Duilayo - war;
Damien - majestic.

In Italy, as in other countries, they use a large number of names, and many of them are beautiful and laconic, harmoniously combined with surnames. In many countries, Italian nicknames are rightfully considered a model of charm.

Some of the most popular Italian names are:

Adriana;
Isabel;
Angelica;
Vittoria;
Gabriella;
Laetitia;
Dolphin;
Marcella;
Paola;
Francesca.

To the beautiful male names can be considered:

Adolfo;
Gasparo;
Gino;
Giuliano;
Oscar;
Sandro;
Ernesto.

Names for girls are very melodious and easy to pronounce. Male nicknames no less attractive, for example, is the well-known name Leonardo, which means “like a lion.” Valentino is “omnipotent, possessing limitless strength.” The residents of Italy themselves prefer nicknames such as Antonio - “priceless”, Luciano - “light”. The latter name has been fashionable in the country for several decades. Less commonly, a boy may be nicknamed Pascal, which translates as “born on Easter.” The babies are also named Romeo - “traveling to Rome.”

Whatever name the Italians prefer, any of them is melodious, bears hidden meaning, which is believed to help its owner achieve success in both family life, and in the professional field. When naming their children, parents often name their babies with a word that denotes character traits and enhances the best of them. For an Italian, a name is a kind of talisman that accompanies him throughout his life and protects him from all sorts of troubles.

As statistics show, Italy has a huge list of names - about 17,000 of them. Their appearance was especially active in the years when cinema began to develop rapidly. Then fathers and mothers gladly named their babies after their favorite heroes. Nicknames changed over time, became longer or, conversely, shorter, other names or parts thereof were added to the words. As an example, we can use reliable information that at the beginning of the 20th century, many newborn girls received the nickname Fedora (the heroine of a then-famous play). In the 30s, Italians were attracted by the nicknames Selvadzha (rebel), Liberia (free and self-sufficient).

IN last years A list of names that are used to call baby boys has been formed:

Alessandro and Andrea;
Francesco and Matteo;
Gabriele and Lorenzo.

The above names come from Ancient Rome, and today are considered native Italian.

Things are different with names for girls. Those that are in demand are those that are borrowed from other cultures. Families choose the following nicknames: George, Julie, Chiara. There are also Roman nicknames: Aurora, Paolo, Martina.

It is worth mentioning that in recent years the trend of changing nicknames has increased. Often young people realize that the names given by their parents do not suit them, so they choose new ones that are fashionable, beautiful and harmonious.

Yesterday we watched one of the episodes of “Fantozzi” ( Fantozzi ) - iconic Italian comedy about the adventures of a failed engineer. A spineless klutz who endlessly gets into all sorts of stories, on whom everyone rides, who has an ugly wife and a monkey daughter, a small apartment and a car - a stool, but who never ceases to love life. So here it is. Once again I was amused by the names in the credits. Let me introduce you, for example, to Hugo Bologna and Leo Benvenuti ( Benvenuti translated from Italian as “welcome”).
Local TV in general often pleases with heroes and surnames. On the news we watch Alessio's reports Zucchini, his colleagues Withlast name Bella Gamba (Beautiful Leg), as well as the brave reporter Rita Cavallo(Horse). One famous ambitious politician proudly wears family name Kasini ( casino - a mess, disorder, brothel), the other - Schifani. The word " schifo "(skifo) 2 meanings, and both are of dubious pleasantness - “nasty” and “picky”...

Nepipivo, Dobrobaba, Kill-Wolf, Negodyaeva, Porosyuchko, Zhopikov and Mogila... All of these wonderful people in Italy there are thousands of brothers and sisters by fate!

Let me separate them, so to speak, thematically.

Let's start with a wide range of products "edible" surnames: Pomodoro ( Pomodoro ), Fagioli ( Fagioli - beans), Piselli ( Pisell - green pea), Karota ( Carota - carrots), Cipolla ( Cipolla - onion)... All vitamins included. You can also find Polpetta ( Polpetta - meatball) and Saltaformaggio - jumping cheese).

Or, for example, Finocchio. The translation at first glance is simple and harmless - “fennel”. But the same word is used in slang to describe gays, so for the majority Italian men The surname is unattractive.

Let's go to the meat aisle, please. It is known that there was an owner of the name Vera (Vera - true, real) with the surname Vacca (Vacca - cow, beef). As you can see, the phrase turns out to be quite elegant... By the way, Vacca is a fairly popular surname in Italy, especially in Sardinia.

Italian "animals" last name: Papagallo ( Papagallo - parrot), Pecora ( Pecora - sheep), Mayale ( Maiale - pig, hog), Pesce ( Pesce - fish), Gattoni ( Gattoni - cats). In Sicily there are several families with the surname Anitra (Anitra - duck). This is only a small part, sorry, of the zoo.

Characterizing: Bella ( Bella - beautiful), Caradonna ( Caradonna - dear woman), Peloso ( Peloso - hairy, shaggy), Gambarotta ( Gambarotta - broken leg), Boncristiani ( Boncristiani - good Christians), Bonmarito (Bonmarito - good husband).

Measuring-fantasy: Diechidue ( Diecidue - ten two), Cinquemani ( Cinquemani - five hands) Quattrocs (Quattrochi - four eyes)…

Sensory-physiological: Tetta ( Tetta - breast), Orgasmo (everything is clear here), Coccolone ( Coccolone - something like the most tender), Sanguedolce (S anguedolce - sweet blood), Pompino ( Pompino ) - hmm.. you can find the translation on the Internet... There, of course, there is a particularly serious case... Although, maybe the last name helps on the contrary! For example, arrange your personal life.

Let's move on to famous surnames: the namesakes of Shakespeare and Balzac, Bush, Reagan and Marx, Hemingway, Einstein and other world-famous greats live on Apennine soil...

There are Italians whose names are the same as dwarfs from Snow White:

DOTTO- Smart guy (quite a lot, almost everyone lives in Veneto),
GONGOLO- Veselchak (can be counted on one hand)
PISOLO - Sleepyhead (also units)
CUCCIOLO - Baby (and it’s time for them to go to the Green Book).

Photo source

There are even people with last names - curses: Bastardo (translated as “illegitimate”, as well as another bad word). Tamarro (dork, village). Dozens of citizens and female citizens by last name Zoccola (lung girl behavior) can be found in Campania, Piedmont and the Ligurian coast.

Just funny: Portafolio (P ortafoglio - wallet), Gratis ( Gratis - free), Spazzolini ( Spazzolini - brushes), Basta ( Basta - that's enough), Manjapan ( Mangiapane - “bread eater” in our opinion).
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In Italy, as in Russia, there is a law allowing you to change surnames. But only those of exceptionally funny or offensive origin. So perhaps one day some of these colorful surnames will remain only in the annals of history...

By the way, Luke Spaghetti, about whom it is written in the book “Eat, Pray, Love”, may well not be a fictional character, but a real man...

here, in a couple of seconds, you can find out about the presence of owners of any Italian surname in the country and their popularity; where the most numerous flocks of “blackbirds” (Merlo) gather, where the most “blessed” (Benedetto) live, and where the “well-lived” (Bonvissuto) live.

Montemurro was most found in Apulia (where my husband is from), Calabria, Campania and in the north - in Lombardy and Piedmont.

By the way, if you believe the information from this site, there are no more descendants of Shakespeare’s Capulets in Italy. But the Montagues are dark all over the country.

For those who can't get enough, here's a list of funny Italian surnames from Anna Chertkova.

And a few more interesting facts on the topic of.

Author of the famous paintings “The Birth of Venus” and “The Adoration of the Magi” Botticelli this nickname came from his older brother, a moneylender, whom everyone called “ il Botticello "(barrel).

10 most common Italian surnames(taken):

Rossi. In Russian it would sound like “red”, but could also mean a person with a pronounced reddish skin tone. In the southern regions of Italy there is a variant of Russo.

Bianchi. Similar to the previous surname, this one translates as “white” and denotes a fair-haired and/or light-skinned person.

Ricci - “curly.” The nicknames Ricci, Rizzi, Rizzo were given to fellow citizens with curly hair.

Marino. The surname comes from the Latin “marinus”, i.e. "sea, from the sea." This was the name given to people whose occupation or place of residence was connected with the sea. In addition, the surname Marino was often given to aliens arriving on ships.

Moretti. A word of Hebrew-Italian origin, meaning a dark-skinned or dark-haired person. Most often, Arabs who arrived from northern Africa or the islands of Mauritius. Synonymous surnames: Moriyadi and Morritt.

Bruno or Bruni means "brown". Typically, this was the name given to people with brown skin and/or hair, as well as those who wore brown clothing.

Esposito - a “free” surname given to abandoned children. Derived from the Latin “exponere” - “throw away, throw up”.

Colombo - "pigeon". Most likely, the ancestor of the modern bearer of this surname kept a dovecote.

Ferrari. The surname of hereditary blacksmiths who worked with iron. Surname options: Ferraro and Ferari.

Romano. The general version indicates the Roman origin of the gens. An alternative description links the surname to Gypsies.

In passing, it was surprising to learn that Madonna is indeed a traditional Italian name, which was quite common in the old days. But that, friends, is another story...)