100 Italian Last Names and Their Meanings

Italian last names are rich with history, culture, and linguistic beauty. Rooted in ancient Roman traditions, regional dialects, occupations, physical traits, and places, these surnames tell stories that span generations. Whether you’re exploring family roots, choosing a name for a character, or simply fascinated by language and identity, Italian surnames offer a vibrant glimpse into the past. This guide features 100 Italian last names, their origins, and what they mean—from the most common to the most poetic, and everything in between.

Common Italian Last Names and Meanings

Rossi – Derived from “rosso,” meaning “red,” often for people with red hair

Russo – Also means “red” and common in southern Italy

Ferrari – From “ferraro,” meaning “blacksmith”

Esposito – Originally given to abandoned or orphaned children, meaning “exposed”

Bianchi – Meaning “white,” likely referring to light hair or skin

Romano – Meaning “Roman,” often indicating someone from Rome

Ricci – Derived from “riccio,” meaning “curly-haired”

Marino – Meaning “of the sea” or “marine”

Greco – Meaning “Greek,” possibly for someone of Greek ancestry

Conti – Derived from “count,” a noble or administrative title

Last Names from Occupations

Ferraro – Blacksmith, from Latin ferrum (iron)

Sartori – Tailor

Molinari – Miller, from “mulino” (mill)

Pescatore – Fisherman

Fabbri – Metalworker or craftsman

Barone – Baron or noble

Cavaliere – Knight or horseman

Contadino – Farmer

Marchetti – Derived from “mercante,” meaning merchant

Botticelli – Barrel-maker or cooper (from botte, barrel)

Last Names Based on Physical Traits

Grasso – Fat or large

Mancini – Left-handed

Basso – Short or low

Bellini – “Little beautiful one,” a diminutive of bello

Gentile – Kind or noble

Longo – Tall or long

Bruno – Brown (hair or skin tone)

Bianco – White

Neri – Black (from nero)

Corto – Short (rare, but occasionally found)

Geographical Last Names (Based on Places)

Lombardi – From Lombardy region

Siciliano – From Sicily

Napolitano – From Naples (Napoli)

Genovese – From Genoa

Fiorentino – From Florence (Firenze)

Calabrese – From Calabria

Romaniello – From Rome or someone with Roman roots

Pugliese – From Puglia

Veneto – From Venice or Veneto region

Luciano – Possibly from Lucania, a historic region

Noble and Historical Last Names

Medici – Famous Florentine family; means “doctors”

Sforza – Means “force” or “strength,” a powerful Milanese dynasty

Visconti – Noble family from Milan

Orsini – A papal noble family; means “little bear”

Colonna – Noble Roman family; means “column”

Malatesta – A powerful family from Rimini; means “bad head”

Savelli – Papal family name

Barberini – Noble family with influence in the 17th century

Aldobrandini – Influential Roman family

Doria – Genoese noble lineage

Religious or Spiritual Last Names

Angelo – Angel

Santoro – From “sanctus,” meaning holy or saintly

Cristofori – Derived from Cristoforo, or Christopher

Chiesa – Church

De Angelis – Of the angels

Donati – Given or gifted, often to the church

Abbate – Abbot or father

Pasquale – Linked to Easter or pascha

Orlando – Famous knight in religious poems, also means “famous land”

Sacchetti – May relate to religious almsgiving (bags or offerings)

Poetic and Beautiful Italian Last Names

Bellavista – Beautiful view

Rinaldi – From a personal name meaning “wise power”

Caruso – Derived from “boy” or “lad”

Amore – Love

Fiore – Flower

Serafini – Seraphs or angels

Benedetti – Blessed

Celeste – Heavenly

Lucenti – Shining or glowing

Valentini – From valente, meaning strong or brave

Surnames Ending in “-ini”, “-etti”, and “-one”

Giannini – Little Giovanni

Paoletti – Little Paolo

Antonelli – Descendant of Antonio

Alberini – Little Alberto

Bertolini – Little Berto or Bertoldo

Lucchetti – Diminutive of Luca

Toscanini – From Tuscany, also a diminutive

Marchesini – Little Marchese (marquis)

Gambone – “Big leg” or possibly a nickname

Sabatini – From Sabato, linked to the Sabbath

Unique or Rare Italian Last Names

Zampieri – Possibly from “zampa,” meaning paw

Sciarra – From “fight” or “quarrel,” possibly a nickname

Brambilla – From Lombardy region, likely place-based

Pacinotti – Rare surname with unclear origins

Fantoni – From “fantino,” or little child or servant

Tassoni – From “tasso,” meaning badger or wise animal

Zucconi – From “zucca,” meaning pumpkin or head

Mazzola – From “mazzo,” meaning bunch or cluster

Farinelli – From “farina,” meaning flour

Lanzetti – Possibly from a lance or soldier weapon

Last Names Related to Family or Lineage

Di Stefano – Son of Stefano

De Luca – Of Luca

Di Matteo – Descendant of Matteo

De Carlo – From Carlo’s family

D’Alessandro – Of Alessandro

Di Giovanni – Son of Giovanni

De Rosa – Of Rosa (likely matriarchal or symbolic)

Di Pietro – From Pietro’s family

De Santis – Of the saints

Di Benedetto – Son of Benedetto (blessed)

Italian last names are more than just family identifiers—they are connections to history, language, profession, and place. With roots stretching back to the Roman Empire, through the Renaissance, and into modern times, these names carry stories and symbolism across generations.

Whether you’re researching ancestry, choosing a character name, or simply enjoying the musicality of Italian culture, this list of 100 Italian last names and their meanings offers a rich journey into tradition and identity.